Guide to Programming with Python

1
Guide to Programming with Python

• Chapter One
• Getting Started The Game Over Program

2
Objectives

• Introduce Python
• Demonstrate how to install Python
• Explain how to print text to the screen
• Describe comments and how to use them
• Demonstrate Pythons development environment,
  IDLE, using it to write, edit, run, and save
  programs
• Course mechanics

3
Examining the Game Over Program

• Figure 1.1 Game Over Program Output
• The all-too familiar words from a computer game

4
Examining the Game Over Program (continued)

• Hello World program By tradition, prints
  "Hello, world!
• Often used as first program
• Console window Provides a text-based interface
  to Windows operating system
• Terminal application Provides a text-based
  interface to Mac OS X and Linux operating systems

5
Where well get to by the end

• From Game Over to real games.
• Demos from previous semester(s)
• Every program you write in this class will be
  related to gaming!
• But how do you make these games?

6
Programming!

• Getting your computer to do stuff.
• By being very specificlike writing recipes for a
  very dumb robot
• Why learn programming?
• Computers are an empowering universal tool
• Lots of jobs in programming
• All fields of science rely on computers now
• Even if you dont ever program again, youll
  learn valuable skills for tackling problems by
  breaking them down into smaller problems and
  thinking logically

7
Introducing Python

• Powerful yet easy to use programming language
• Developed by Guido van Rossum
• First released in 1991
• Named after comedy troupe Monty Python
• An alarming number of references to spam, eggs,
  and the number 42 in documentation

8
Monty Python DemonstratesWhy Programming
Computers is Hard
9
Why Python? Its Easy to Use

• High-level language Distinct from the low-level
  processor operations closer to human language
  than machine language
• "Programming at the speed of thought"
• Increases productivity
• Python programs three to five times shorter than
  Java
• Python programs five to ten times shorter than
  C
• Normally, Programming is like making fine
  furniture with an axe and a nail file.
• Python makes it more like working with a table
  saw a lathe
• You still have to learn how to use them, but
  theyre the right tools for the job

10
Python Is Easy to Use (continued)

• Python Program
• print "Game Over!"
• C Program
• include ltiostreamgt
• int main()
• stdcout ltlt "Game Over!" ltlt stdendl
• return 0

11
Python Is Powerful

• Used by large organizations
• NASA
• Google
• Microsoft
• Used in published games
• Battlefield 2
• Civilization IV
• Disneys Toontown Online
• Used throughout academia and the scientific
  community

12
Python Is Object-Oriented

• Object-oriented programming (OOP) Methodology
  that defines problems in terms of objects that
  send messages to each other
• In a game, a Missile object could send a Ship
  object a message to Explode
• OOP not required, unlike Java and C

13
Python Is a Glue Language

• Can be integrated with other languages
• C/C
• Java
• Use existing code
• Leverage strengths of other languages
• Extra speed that C or C offers

14
Python Runs Everywhere

• Platform independent Independent of the specific
  computer operating system
• Python runs on
• Windows
• DOS
• Mac OS X
• Linux
• Many more

15
Python Has a Strong Community

• As an approachable language, has approachable
  community
• Python Tutor mailing list
• http//mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
• Perfect for beginners
• No actual "tutors" or "students"

16
Python Is Free and Open Source

• Open source Publicly available open source
  software typically programmed by volunteers
  anyone can use source code without fee
• Can modify or even resell Python
• Embracing open-source ideals is part of what
  makes Python successful

17
Python is Popular

• All those advantages make Python a commonly used
  (and liked) language (http//www.langpop.com/)

Java C C Javascript PHP Python SQL Perl C
18
Installing Python

• Do NOT install anything from the textbooks
  CD-ROM
• Instead, follow the instructions on the class web
  page
• Dont have to worry about PyGame LiveWires yet
• Windows
• Go to http//www.python.org/download/
• Download the latest standard (aka production)
  release installer (.msi file) --e.g. Python 2.6.4
• Double-click the installer program and follow its
  instructions to install Python on your boot (C)
  drive

19
Installing Python (continued)

• Linux
• Python probably already installed
• Test try running python at command prompt
• If not installed, go to http//www.python.org/down
  load/ (you will probably need to build from
  source)
• Mac OS X
• For 10.5.x or 10.6.x follow the instructions on
  the class web site (install Enthought Python
  Distribution and replace IDLE)
• For earlier versions download appropriate version
  from Python web site at http//www.python.org/down
  load/

20
Introducing IDLE

• Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
  Application that helps software developers write
  programs
• Like a word processor for your code
• IDLE is the IDE that ships with Python
• Has two modes Interactive and Script

21
Programming in Interactive Mode
Figure 1.4 Python in interactive mode Python
awaits your command.
22
Programming in Interactive Mode (continued)

• Great for immediate feedback
• Test a simple idea
• Remember how something works
• Open Python in interactive mode
• Windows From the Start menu, choose Programs,
  Python ltversiongt, IDLE (Python GUI)
• Mac Launch /Applications/Enthought/IDLE.app
• On STC Lab machines
• Windows Will be in Start menu gt All Programs gt
  Departmentally Sponsored gt Informatics gt IDLE (or
  python26)
• Mac Click IDLE 2.6 in the Departmentally
  Sponsored folder in the Dock, or type
  /usr/local/bin/python2.6 from the command line in
  /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app

23
Programming in Interactive Mode (continued)

• At command prompt (gtgtgt), type print "Game Over"
• Python responds with Game Over

24
Programming in Interactive Mode (continued)

• print Statement can display a string (actually,
  any expression)
• String Sequence of characters
• Statement Single unit in programming language
  that performs some action
• print "Game Over"
• Expression Something which has a value or that
  can be evaluated to a single value
• "Game Over"
• 7 2
• Code Sequence of programming statements

25
Programming in Interactive Mode (continued)

• Syntax highlighting Displaying programming code
  in different colors or fonts, according to the
  category of each item (e.g. in IDLE)
• Errors
• Computers take everything literally
• primt "Game Over" produces an Error Message
  SyntaxError invalid syntax
• Syntax error Error in the rules of usage often
  a typo
• Bug Error in programming code usually a logic
  error a mistake that produces unintended results

26
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27
Programming in Script Mode

Figure 1.5 Python in script mode Your blank
canvas awaits.
28
Programming in Script Mode (continued)

• Great for programs you want to run later
• Write, edit, save, and load programs
• Like word processor for your programs
• Find and replace
• Cut and paste
• Open a script window
• In interactive window, select File menu, New
  Window

29
Programming in Script Mode (continued)

• Write program
• In script window, type print "Game Over"
• Save program
• Select File, Save As, name game_over.py
• Always save before running
• Run Program
• Select Run, Run Module
• Results displayed in interactive window

30
Programming in Script Mode (continued)

• Figure 1.6 Python after a script has been run
• The results of running the Game Over program

31
The Game Over Program

• Game Over
• Demonstrates the print command
• print "Game Over"
• raw_input("\n\nPress the enter key to exit.")

32
The Game Over Program (continued)

• Comment A note in source code meant only for
  programmers ignored by computer
• Start comment with
• Use opening block of comments to say what program
  does, who wrote it and when
• Blank Lines
• Also (generally) ignored by computer
• Use for readability keep related code together
• Console Window
• Final line keeps console window open until youre
  ready to end it

33
Summary

• Python is a high-level, object-oriented
  programming language thats powerful yet easy to
  use
• Python can interface with other programming
  languages
• IDLE is Pythons standard IDE
• IDLE has an interactive mode that offers
  immediate response to Python code
• IDLE has a script mode that allows programmers to
  write, edit, load, save, and run their programs

34
Summary (continued)

• A string is a sequence of characters
• A statement is a single unit of programming that
  performs some action
• The print statement displays strings on the
  screen
• An expression is something which has a value or
  that can be evaluated to a single value
• Syntax highlighting is displaying programming
  code in different colors or fonts, according to
  the category of each item

35
Summary (continued)

• A syntax error is a violation of the grammar of a
  programming language often caused by a typo
• A logical error is a mistake made at run time
  that produces incorrect results
• A bug is an error in programming code
• A comment is a note in source code meant only for
  programmers ignored by computer 
• Comments start with
• You should use an opening block of comments in
  your programs to identify the programmer, the
  creation date, and the programs purpose 

36
Summary (continued)

• For all class info see the class web page
• http//informatics.indiana.edu/larryy/I210
• All quizzes, assignments, and grades administered
  through Oncourse in the combined lecture section
• Class structure 2 lectures, 1 lab
• lab attendance is mandatory
• lab quiz administered at random times

37
Summary (continued)

• Weekly assignments (and quizzes) are from the
  book
• Read it!
• Assignments are administered via the Assignments
  page on Oncourse in the combined lecture section
• Upload files with names specified in the
  assignment
• Due before Tuesday class!
• Midterm exam will be given during lab of week 7
• Final game project (instead of final exam)

38
Summary (continued)

• No cellphones in lectures
• No computers in lectures unless prompted
• Bring laptops to labs and to office-hour visits
  (if possible)
• No late submission of assignments
• Help each other, but no copying of codewell
  find it!
• This class is hard, and you learn programming by
  doing it. So put in the time, come prepared to
  labs and office hours, and keep up! And have fun!

39
Guide to Programming with Python

• Chapter Two
• Types, Variables, and Simple I/O The Useless
  Trivia Program

40
Objectives

• Use triple-quoted strings and escape sequences
• Make programs do math
• Store data in the computers memory
• Use variables to access and manipulate that data
• Get input from users to create interactive
  programs

41
The Useless Trivia Program

• Figure 2.1 Sample run of the Useless Trivia
  program
• Whoa! Steve might think about a diet before he
  visits the sun.

42
Using Quotes with Strings

• Can create a single string that's paragraphs long
• Can format text of string in a specific manner
• Can use quotes to create long string or to format

43
The Game Over 2.0 Program

• Figure 2.2 Sample run of the Game Over 2.0
  program
• Ah, the game is really over.

44
Using Quotes

• Using quotes inside strings
• Define with either single (') or double quotes
  (")
• 'Game Over' or "Game Over"
• Define with one type, use other type in string
• "Program 'Game Over' 2.0"
• Triple-quoted strings can span multiple lines
• """
• I am a
• triple-quoted string
• """
• Line-continuation character \

45
Using Escape Sequences with Strings

• Escape sequence Set of characters that allow you
  to insert special characters into a string
• Backslash followed by another character
• e.g. \n
• Simple to use

46
The Fancy Credits Program

• Figure 2.3 Sample run of the Fancy Credits
  program
• So many people to thank, so many escape sequences

47
Escape Sequences

• System bell
• print "\a"
• Tab
• print "\t\t\tFancy Credits"
• Backslash
• print "\t\t\t \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\ \\"
• Newline
• print "\nSpecial thanks goes out to"
• Quote
• print "My hair stylist, Henry \'The Great\', who
  never says \"can\'t\"."

48
Escape Sequences (continued)

• Table 2.1 Selected escape sequences

49
Concatenating and Repeating Strings

• Can combine two separate strings into larger one
• Can repeat a single string multiple times

50
The Silly Strings Program

• Figure 2.4 Sample run of the Silly Strings
  program
• Strings appear differently than in the program
  code.

51
Concatenating Strings

• String concatenation Joining together of two
  strings to form a new string
• When used with string operands, is the string
  concatenation operator
• "concat" "enate"
• Suppressing a Newline
• When used at the end of print statement, comma
  suppresses newline
• print "No newline after this string",

52
Repeating String

• Multiple concatenations
• When used with strings, creates a new string by
  concatenating a string a specified number of
  times
• Like multiplying a string
• "Pie" 10 creates new string "PiePiePiePiePiePieP
  iePiePiePie"

53
Working with Numbers

• Can work with numbers as easily as with strings
• Need to represent numbers in programs
• Score in space shooter game
• Account balance in personal finance program
• Python can represent different types of numbers

54
The Word Problems Program

• Figure 2.5 Sample run of the Word Problems
  program
• With Python, you can keep track of a pregnant
  hippos weight.

55
Numeric Types

• Type Represents the kind of value determines
  how the value can be used
• Two common numeric types
• Integers Numbers without a fractional part
• 1, 0, 27, -100
• Floating-Point Numbers (or Floats) Numbers with
  a fractional part
• 2.376, -99.1, 1.0

56
Mathematical Operators

• Addition and Subtraction
• print 2000 - 100 50 displays 1950
• Integer Division
• print 24 / 6 displays 4
• But print 19 / 4 displays 4 as well
• Result of integer division always integer
• Floating-Point Division
• print 19.0 / 4 displays 4.75
• When at least one number is a float, result is a
  float
• Modulus (remainder of integer division)
• print 107 4 displays 3

57
Mathematical Operators (continued)

• Table 2.2 Mathematical operators with integers

58
Mathematical Operators (continued)

• Table 2.3 Mathematical operators with floats

59
Understanding Variables

• Variable Represents a value provides way to get
  at information in computer memory
• Variables allow you to store and manipulate
  information
• You can create variables to organize and access
  this information

60
The Greeter Program

• Figure 2.6 Sample run of the Greeter program
• Using a variable for the name

61
Creating Variables

• Assignment statement Assigns a value to a
  variable creates variable if necessary
• name "Larry"
• Stores string "Larry" in computer memory
• Creates variable name
• Assigns value so that name refers to "Larry"

62
Using Variables

• Use variable where you want value it represents
• print name or print "Larry"
• Both display Larry
• print "Hi, " name or print "Hi, Larry"
• Both display Hi, Larry

63
Naming Variables

• Rules for legal variable names
• Can contain only numbers, letters, and
  underscores
• Cant start with a number
• Cant be a keyword
• Keyword Built-in word with special meaning
• Legal Names
• velocity, player2, max_health
• Illegal Names
• ?again, 2nd_player, print

64
Naming Variables (continued)

• Guidelines for good variable names
• Choose descriptive names score instead of s
• Be consistent high_score or highScore
• Follow traditions Names that begin with
  underscore have special meaning
• Keep the length in check personal_checking_account
  _balance - too long?
• Self-documenting code Code written so that its
  easy to understand, independent of any comments

65
Getting User Input

• Variables important for
• Getting user input
• Storing user input
• Manipulating user input

66
The Personal Greeter Program

• Figure 2.7 Sample run of the Personal Greeter
  program
• name is assigned a value based on what the user
  enters.

67
Getting User Input

• Function A named collection of programming code
  that can receive values, do some work, and return
  values
• Argument Value passed to a function
• Return value Value returned from a function upon
  completion
• Function is like a pizzeria
• Make a call
• Provide information (like pepperoni)
• Get something back (like a hot pepperoni pizza)

68
Getting User Input (continued)

• raw_input() function
• Prompts the user for text input
• Returns what the user entered as a string
• name raw_input("Hi. What's your name? ")
• Uses argument "Hi. What's your name? " to prompt
  user
• Returns what user entered as a string
• In assignment statement, name gets returned
  string

69
Using String Methods

• String methods allow you to do many things,
  including
• Create new strings from old ones
• Create string thats all-capital-letters version
  of original
• Create new string from original, based on letter
  substitutions

70
The Quotation Manipulation Program

• Figure 2.8 Sample run of the Quotation
  Manipulation program
• The slightly low guess is printed several times
  with string methods.

71
String Methods

• Method A function that an object has
• Use dot notation to call (or invoke) a method
• Use variable name for object, followed by dot,
  followed by method name and parentheses
• an_object.a_method()
• Strings have methods that can return new strings

72
String Methods (continued)

• quote "I think there is a world market for
  maybe five computers."
• print quote.upper()
• I THINK THERE IS A WORLD MARKET FOR MAYBE FIVE
  COMPUTERS.
• print quote.lower()
• i think there is a world market for maybe five
  computers.
• print quote.title()
• I Think There Is A World Market For Maybe Five
  Computers.
• print quote.replace("five", "millions of")
• I think there is a world market for millions of
  computers.
• Original string unchanged
• print quote
• I think there is a world market for maybe five
  computers.

73
String Methods (continued)

• Table 2.4 Useful string methods

74
Using the Right Types

• Important to know which data types are available
• Equally important to know how to work with them
• If not, might end up with program that produces
  unintended results

75
The Trust Fund BuddyBad Program

• Figure 2.9 Sample run of the Trust Fund
  Buddy-Bad program
• The monthly total should be high, but not that
  high.

76
Logical Errors

• Logical Error An error that doesnt cause a
  program to crash, but instead produces unintended
  results
• Program output that looks like very large number
  200001000017000500075001200068001000
• Remember, raw_input() returns a string, so
  program is not adding numbers, but concatenating
  strings

77
Logical Errors (continued)

• car raw_input("Lamborghini Tune-Ups ")
• rent raw_input("Manhattan Apartment ")
• jet raw_input("Private Jet Rental ")
• gifts raw_input("Gifts ")
• food raw_input("Dining Out ")
• staff raw_input("Staff (butlers, chef, driver,
  assistant) ")
• guru raw_input("Personal Guru and Coach ")
• games raw_input("Computer Games ")
• total car rent jet gifts food staff
  guru games
• car, rent, jet, gifts, food, staff, guru, games
  are strings
• total is concatenation of all strings

78
Converting Values

• Can convert one type of value to another
• Use built-in functions
• Solution to Trust Fund BuddyBad program

79
The Trust Fund BuddyGood Program

• Figure 2.10 Sample run of the Trust Fund
  Buddy-Good program
• Now the total is right.

80
Converting Types

• int() function converts a value to an integer
• car raw_input("Lamborghini Tune-Ups ")
• car int(car)
• Can nest multiple function calls
• rent int(raw_input("Manhattan Apartment "))

81
Converting Types (continued)

• Table 2.5 Selected type conversion functions

82
Augmented Assignment Operators

• Common to assign a value to a variable based on
  its original value
• For example, increment value of variable
• Augmented assignment operators provide condensed
  syntax
• Original score score 1
• Augmented score 1

83
Augmented Assignment Operators (continued)

• Table 2.6 Useful augmented assignment operators

84
Printing Multiple Values

• To print multiple values in single print
  statement, separate values by commas
• print "\nGrand Total ", total

85
Summary

• String can be defined with either single or
  double quotes
• Tripled-quoted strings, defined by three opening
  and closing quotes, can span multiple lines
• An escape sequence is a set of characters that
  allow you to insert special characters into a
  string
• String concatenation is the joining together of
  two strings to form a new string
• Integers, whole numbers with no decimal part, and
  floats, numbers with a decimal part, are two
  numeric types

86
Summary (continued)

• Result of integer division is always an integer
  while result of floating-point division is always
  a float
• A variable represents a value and provides way to
  get at information in computer memory
• An assignment statement assigns a value to a
  variable and creates variable if necessary
• A function is a named collection of programming
  code that can receive values, do some work, and
  return values
• The raw_input() function prompts the user for
  input and returns what the user entered as a
  string

87
Summary (continued)

• A method is a function that an object has
• Strings have methods that can return new strings
• A logical error produces unintended results
• Python has functions for converting values to an
  integer, a float, or a string
• Augmented assignment operators provide condensed
  syntax for changing the value of a variable based
  on its original value