Technology - Lesson 1: Introduction to Python

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Introduction

Python is a powerful, high-level programming language widely used for web development, data analysis, artificial intelligence, scientific computing, and automation. Known for its readability and simplicity, Python is often the first language new programmers learn due to its extensive support libraries and community.

Downloading and Installing Python

To start using Python, download and install it on your computer. Here’s how:

  • Go to the official Python website at python.org/downloads.
  • Select the version appropriate for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to install Python, making sure to check the box that adds Python to your system PATH during installation on Windows.

System Requirements

Python has minimal system requirements and runs on most operating systems. Here are some basic requirements:

  • Operating System: Python supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Disk Space: At least 200 MB of free space.
  • RAM: 512 MB or more is recommended.

Launching Python

After installation, you can launch Python in several ways:

  • On Windows, open the Command Prompt and type python to start the Python interpreter.
  • On macOS and Linux, open a terminal window and type python3 if Python 3 is installed, as some systems may default to Python 2.
  • Alternatively, open the IDLE (Integrated Development and Learning Environment) application that comes with Python for a beginner-friendly interface.

Once Python is running, you will see a prompt (>>>), indicating you can enter Python commands and code directly into the interpreter.

Your First Python Program

Let’s start with a simple "Hello, World!" program, often the first step in learning a new programming language:

print("Hello, World!")

Type this line into the Python prompt and press Enter. You should see the output:

Hello, World!

Understanding Modules in Python

Python comes with a wide range of built-in modules, which are files containing Python definitions and statements. These modules can be imported into your programs to add functionality without writing new code.

To use a module, you simply import it at the beginning of your script. For example, to work with math functions, use:

import math

Modules are a convenient way to access pre-built functions and make coding faster and easier.

Installing Modules

In addition to built-in modules, Python has a vast ecosystem of external modules available through the Python Package Index (PyPI). To install these, you use pip, the package installer for Python.

For instance, to install a module named requests, use:

pip install requests

Python for Finance

Python is extensively used in finance for tasks such as data analysis, algorithmic trading, and financial modeling. Here are some popular finance-related modules, each with a brief description and installation command:

  • Pandas: Essential for data manipulation and analysis, especially in handling large datasets in finance.
    • pip install pandas
  • NumPy: Provides support for large, multi-dimensional arrays and matrices, along with mathematical functions. Useful for quantitative finance.
    • pip install numpy
  • Matplotlib: A plotting library to create static, animated, and interactive visualizations in Python. It’s valuable for visualizing financial data.
    • pip install matplotlib
  • yfinance: Allows easy downloading of financial data from Yahoo Finance, useful for analysis and stock market tracking.
    • pip install yfinance
  • Scipy: Used for scientific and technical computing, including statistical analysis, optimizations, and more.
    • pip install scipy

These modules enhance Python’s capabilities in finance, making it a preferred language in financial data science and analytics.