Beginners Course in Python

Lesson 1 • Using the Interactive Python Shell

Execute statements line by line in the REPL to observe immediate results. Builds intuition for Python syntax before writing full scripts.

Lesson 2 • Writing and Running Your First Script

Create a .py file, write a print statement, and execute it from the terminal. Connects editor, interpreter, and terminal into one workflow.

Lesson 3 • Choosing and Configuring an Editor

Compare text editors and IDEs suited for beginners, then configure one for Python. Proper tooling accelerates learning throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Variables and Assignment

Assign values to variables using Python's dynamic typing model. Provides the storage mechanism all programs in the course rely on.

Lesson 2 • Type Checking and Conversion

Inspect types with type() and convert between them safely. Prevents type errors that are amongst the most common beginner mistakes.

Lesson 3 • Booleans and None

Use True, False, and None to represent logical states and missing values. These types drive conditional logic introduced in the next chapter.

Lesson 4 • Strings and Text Handling

Create, index, slice, and format strings using built-in methods. Text manipulation is essential for user interaction and data parsing.

Lesson 1 • for Loops and the range Function

Iterate over sequences and numeric ranges with for loops. Enables processing collections introduced in the next chapter.

Lesson 2 • if, elif, and else Statements

Direct program execution down different paths based on evaluated conditions. Branching logic enables programmes to handle varied real-world scenarios.

Lesson 3 • Loop Control and Comprehension Preview

Use break, continue, and else on loops to fine-tune iteration behaviour. Prepares students for list comprehensions covered after collections.

Lesson 4 • Comparison and Logical Operators

Combine comparison operators with and, or, and not to form complex conditions. These expressions are the building blocks of every control structure.

Lesson 1 • Lists: Creation and Basic Operations

Build ordered, mutable sequences and access elements by index. Lists are the most frequently used collection in Python programmes.

Lesson 2 • List Methods and Iteration

Add, remove, sort, and search list contents using built-in methods. Combines with for loops to process data sets systematically.

Lesson 3 • Dictionaries: Key-Value Storage

Map unique keys to values and retrieve data in constant time. Dictionaries model real-world records like user profiles and configuration settings.

Lesson 4 • Sets and Membership Testing

Use sets for unique-value storage and fast membership checks. Rounds out the core collection types and introduces set operations.

Lesson 1 • Docstrings and Function Documentation

Add docstrings to document purpose, parameters, and return values. Good documentation is a professional habit reinforced from the start.

Lesson 2 • Parameters: Defaults and Keyword Arguments

Design flexible function signatures with default and keyword arguments. Increases reusability without requiring callers to supply every argument.

Lesson 3 • Defining and Calling Functions

Use def to create named blocks of reusable code and call them with arguments. Functions are the primary tool for eliminating code duplication.

Lesson 4 • Variable Scope and Namespaces

Distinguish local, enclosing, global, and built-in scopes using the LEGB rule. Prevents subtle bugs caused by unintended variable shadowing.

Lesson 1 • Reading and Writing Text Files

Open files with the with statement and read or write text content. File I/O is fundamental for data persistence and log generation.

Lesson 2 • Working with CSV Files

Parse and write tabular data using the csv module. CSV is the most common format for exchanging structured data in professional settings.

Lesson 3 • Exception Handling with try and except

Catch and handle exceptions to prevent program crashes on bad input or missing files. Robust error handling is a mark of production-quality code.

Lesson 4 • File Paths and the os Module

Construct portable file paths and inspect the filesystem using os and pathlib. Prevents hard-coded path bugs across different operating systems.

Lesson 1 • Useful Standard Library Modules

Apply maths, random, datetime, and collections to solve common tasks. Demonstrates that many problems are already solved in the standard library.

Lesson 2 • Virtual Environments

Create isolated environments with venv to avoid dependency conflicts. A professional practice required for any multi-project Python workflow.

Lesson 3 • Installing Third-Party Packages with pip

Install, upgrade, and remove packages using pip and manage dependencies. Opens access to Python's vast ecosystem of third-party libraries.

Lesson 4 • Creating Your Own Modules

Split code across multiple .py files and import them as modules. Promotes separation of concerns in projects beyond a single script.

Lesson 1 • Inheritance and Method Overriding

Extend existing classes with inheritance and override methods to specialise behaviour. Reduces duplication when modelling hierarchies of related objects.

Lesson 2 • Encapsulation and Properties

Control attribute access with naming conventions and the property decorator. Protects internal state whilst providing a clean public interface.

Lesson 3 • Special Methods and Operator Overloading

Implement dunder methods to make objects work with built-in operators and functions. Enables intuitive use of custom classes in standard Python expressions.

Lesson 4 • Instance Methods and self

Write methods that operate on instance data through the self parameter. Methods encapsulate behaviour alongside the data it acts on.