Python: Programming

Python: Programming

1. Algorithms

   • The different, precise steps to solve a problem - a set of instructions.

2. Decomposition

   • When you break down the problem into smaller, more manageable tasks.

3. Sequence

   • The consecutive order in which the computer has to solve a problem.

4. Syntax error

   • An error in the source code
   • When there is a syntax error, you need to 'debug' it

5. Errors are called "bugs".

6. Variable

   • A name memory location- temporary valuables.

7. There are two models

   • Interactive Mode
     • This mode uses the shell window.
     • Lets you see the outcome as you type the code.
   • Script Mode
     • This mode uses the Editor window.
     • Allows you to save your program and run it again later.
   • IDLE
     • Integrated Development Environment.
       • Thonny:
       • Pycharm
       • Netbeans
       • Eclipse
     • Particularly useful when managing larger collections of Python files.

8. Comment

   • Allows people to document your program and make it easier to understand your code.
   • Starts with a # symbol and appears in red.

9. Rules for a variable:

   • A variable name cannot start with a number
   • You cannot use a Python "reserved word" as a variable name.
     • For example, 'class' is a reserved word, so 'class=input()' would result in a syntax error
   • A variable name can only contain numbers, letters and underscores.
   • To make your programs easier make explicit names (be specific).

10. Functions

    • Special, built-in routines that do a specific job.
    • e.g. print() or input()
    • Appears in purple.

11. Designed for readabilty

    • Has some similarities to the English language.
    • Influenced from mathematics.

12. Uses new lines to complete a command as opposed to other coding languages, which often use semi colons and parenthesis

13. Strings

    • Arrays of bytes representing unicode characters
    • A sequence of characters.
    • String literals in Python are surrounded by either single or double quotation marks.

14. Array

    • A data structure that stores values of the same data type.
    • A list

15. Multiline strings

    • Strings that have more than one line
    • To assign a multiline string to a variable you need to use three quotation marks
      • e.g. a = """Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.""" print(a)