Python For Beginners (original) (raw)

Notice: While JavaScript is not essential for this website, your interaction with the content will be limited. Please turn JavaScript on for the full experience.

Welcome! Are you completely new to programming? If not then we presume you will be looking for information about why and how to get started with Python. Fortunately an experienced programmer in any programming language (whatever it may be) can pick up Python very quickly. It's also easy for beginners to use and learn, sojump in!

Installing

Installing Python is generally easy, and nowadays many Linux and UNIX distributions include a recent Python. Even some Windows computers (notably those from HP) now come with Python already installed. If you do need to install Python and aren't confident about the task you can find a few notes on theBeginnersGuide/Downloadwiki page, but installation is unremarkable on most platforms.

Looking for Something Specific?

If you want to know whether a particular application, or a library with particular functionality, is available in Python there are a number of possible sources of information. The Python web site provides aPython Package Index(also known as the Cheese Shop, a reference to the Monty Python script of that name). There is also asearch page for a number of sources of Python-related information. Failing that, justGoogle for a phrase including the word ''python'' and you may well get the result you need. If all else fails, ask on thepython newsgroupand there's a good chance someone will put you on the right track.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question, it's a good idea to try theFAQ, which answers the most commonly asked questions about Python.

Looking to Help?

If you want to help to develop Python, take a look at thedeveloper area for further information. Please note that you don't have to be an expert programmer to help. The documentation is just as important as the compiler, and still needs plenty of work!