Introduction

Abstract

Chapter one introduces the reader to computer programming using Python by first demonstrating how to install the Python interpreter on a computer. An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is an environment for writing computer programs and chapter one also recommends an IDE and demonstrates how to install it and begin using it.

The first chapter continues by illustrating how to write a first program using Python to test that the IDE was correctly installed. The chapter goes on to introduce the reader to some introductory computer architecture providing an appreciation for what programming languages do for us while giving readers a deeper understanding of how Python works. Chapter one concludes by introducing by introducing assignment statements, the importance of types in Python, and how to get input and print formatted output using Python. Types of data introduced include integers, real numbers, and strings.