Getting Started with Programming in Python

What is Python?

Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language that is easy to learn and has a wide variety of applications. Python was first released in 1991 and has since become one of the most popular programming languages in use today. Python is widely used in data science, artificial intelligence, web development, scientific computing, and many other areas.

Python is a popular choice for beginners because it has a clean and easy-to-understand syntax, which makes it easier to read and write code. Python is also known for its vast libraries and frameworks, which make it easier to build complex applications.

Installing Python

Before we start programming in Python, we need to install the Python interpreter. Python is available for free download from the official website.

To install Python, follow these steps:

1. Go to the official Python website (https://www.python.org/) and click on the "Downloads" tab.
2. Choose the appropriate version of Python for your operating system and download it.
3. Run the installer and follow the installation wizard to install Python on your computer.

Writing Your First Python Program

Now that we have installed Python, let's write our first program. Open a text editor such as Notepad or Sublime Text and type the following code:

pythonCopy code
print("Hello, world!")

Save the file as hello.py and run it from the command line by typing python hello.py.

The output of the program should be:

Copy code
Hello, world!

This program is a simple example of a Python program that prints a message to the console. The print() function is a built-in function in Python that is used to print output to the console.