Introduction to Python#

Open In Colab

The PDF slides from the start of the first class are available here: https://cogs18.github.io/assets/intro/01_welcome.pdf

Logistics#

  • Who:

    • Instructor: Shannon Ellis

    • TA: Annapurna, Divya, Hui, Liz, Razhel, Zoe

    • IAs: Akshay, Emanoel, Pheobe, Bella, Roxy, Jenny, Yiting, Jonathan, Princess, Zidane, Marissa, Zoe, Pranav, and Coco

  • Where:

    • Lectures TuTh @ 11AM (PETER 110) or 2PM (CTL 0125)

    • Coding Lab Sections W 9-5; F 9-5 (CSB 115)

    • Course Website: https://cogs18.github.io

Expectations & Approach#

  • Goal: to learn practical programming in Python

  • How: hands-on, community driven, skills based course, assignment & project driven

  • Lectures & Lab Sections will be used for interactive activities

  • Assignments, coding labs & a final project will be designed to get you coding

Why Learn Computation?#

  • Computation is how things are done

  • Computation is the foundation of much of the modern world

What is Python#

  • Python is a programming language

    • It is a way to do computation

    • It gets the computer to do the work for you

  • Python is an ecosystem

    • It is a culture of practice for computation

What does Python look like#

variable_name = "variable name."
print(variable_name)
a = 1
b = 2

c = a + b

print(c)

Why Choose Python?#

  • Python is a powerful, well developed, and well supported tool

  • Python is general purpose, with an immense, multi-purpose ecosystem

  • Python is human focused, with a strong user & developer community

  • Python is open-source and accessible

This is a Jupyter Notebook#

Uses in COGS 18:

  • lecture notes

  • assignments

  • coding labs

  • final exam