Running Your First Python Program

Learn how to run your first Python program, covering the basics of introduction and execution in Python. …

Learn how to run your first Python program, covering the basics of introduction and execution in Python. Running Your First Python Program

Definition of the Concept

Before we dive into running our first Python program, let’s define what it means to “run” a Python program. In essence, running a Python program involves executing a series of instructions written in Python code. These instructions are stored in files with a .py extension and can perform various tasks such as calculations, data manipulation, and more.

Step-by-Step Explanation

To run your first Python program, follow these steps:

Step 1: Install Python

If you haven’t already, download and install the latest version of Python from the official Python website. This will ensure that you have a working Python environment on your computer.

Step 2: Choose an Editor or IDE

Next, select a text editor or Integrated Development Environment (IDE) where you can write your Python code. Popular choices include PyCharm, Visual Studio Code, and Spyder.

Step 3: Create a New File

Create a new file in your chosen editor or IDE and save it with a .py extension, for example, hello_world.py.

Step 4: Write Your First Python Program

In the newly created file, add the following code:

# This is a comment - anything after the '#' symbol is ignored by Python

print("Hello, World!")  # Print a greeting message to the console

Let’s break down what this code does:

• print(): This function prints its argument to the console.
• "Hello, World!": The string of characters that we want to print.

Step 5: Save and Run Your Program

Save your file with the .py extension. To run your program, follow these steps:

• Open a terminal or command prompt window on your computer.
• Navigate to the directory where you saved your hello_world.py file using the cd command (e.g., cd Documents/Python/hello_world.py).
• Type python hello_world.py and press Enter.

You should see the following output:

Hello, World!

Congratulations! You have successfully run your first Python program.

Code Explanation

Let’s review the code snippet again:

print("Hello, World!")

Here’s a simple explanation of what each part does:

• print(): This is a built-in function in Python that prints its argument to the console.
• "Hello, World!": This is the string of characters that we want to print.

Conclusion

Running your first Python program is an exciting milestone. By following these steps and understanding the code snippet, you’ve taken the first step towards learning Python programming. In future articles, we’ll dive deeper into more advanced concepts and explore the world of Python programming together!