Python Programming:

Lecture 1
Outline
• Introduction to computation
• Basic descriptions of computers
• Introduction to programs
• Introduction to programming languages
Computation
• Until 1940s the word computer was a job title.
• Computers were people trained to carry out mathematical operations
• They followed a set of precise instructions required to create mathematical tables used for
navigation, astronomy, business
What is Computation?
• Computation refers to the process of performing mathematical calculations or
solving problems using algorithms and data manipulation.
• An algorithm is a well-defined, step-by-step procedure or set of rules for solving a specific
problem or performing a particular task.

• Computation involves the execution of a series of instructions or steps to obtain

a desired result or output.
Examples of Computations
Goal: Calculating an area of a triangle
Input: Base and Height
Compute the area: ½ * Base * Height
Output the area

Goal: Calculating an average grade of a student in 5 subjects

Input: list<grades>
number of subjects->Count number of grades
total:sum(list_grades)
average->total/number of subjects
Output the average
What are programs?
• Computer programs, also known as software, are sequences of instructions
that tell a computer what to do.

• They are written in programming languages and can perform a wide range of
tasks, from simple calculations to complex simulations and analyses.

• They can be categorized as:

• System Software: includes operating systems, device drivers, and utility programs
that manage and control the computer's hardware and software resources.
• Application Software: includes programs that perform specific tasks, such as word
processing, spreadsheet analysis, and graphic design.
Complex Computation Example
Programming Languages
Programming languages
• Programming languages are formal languages used to write computer
programs.
• Programming languages are formal languages that have been designed to
express computations.

Natural Languages are Formal languages are languages

languages people speak people designed for a specific
such as English, Amharic, purpose. For example:
and French Mathematical Notations, Chemical
Symbols, and Programming
languages
Natural vs Formal language
• Formal languages have strict syntax rules to convey a precise message to the
intended audience.
• For eg. The chemical symbol for water can only be written as H2O.
The sum of the numbers 2 and 3 is described as: 2 + 3 = 5
Natural vs Formal language
The difference between natural and formal languages can be captured:
◦ Ambiguity: natural languages are full of ambiguity and the correspondence
relies on contextual clues of to parse the meaning of the information being
communicated. On the other hand, formal languages are designed to be
precise as much as possible.
• Redundancy: natural languages rely on redundancy to communicate the
message without misunderstanding and ambiguity. Formal languages are less
redundant.
• Literalness: natural languages are full of metaphors and idioms. Formal
languages mean exactly what they say.
Programming languages
Programming languages have syntax and semantics
• The syntax of a program refers to the set of rules that define the
structure and format of the program's code.
• The semantics of a program refers to the meaning or interpretation of
the program's code.
Programming languages
• High-level Languages: programming languages that can easily be understood by
humans. The languages are almost English like. Examples: Python, C, C++, Java
and so on.
• Low-level languages (Machine language): language that can be understood by
computers and difficult to read by humans. All of the language is written by
symbols 0 & 1.
•
Programming languages
• High-level languages needs to be translated to low-level
languages to be executed by a computer. To do this we use:
• Compilers: translates the entire program to a low-level language
which then can be executed by computers. Eg. Java, C, C++
• Interpreters: translates and executes the code line by line, translating
each line to machine code as it is executing. Eg. Python, Javascript,
PHP, Rubi
Flowcharts
Flowcharts show
● To understand, structure and make the problem clear, we often use flowchart chart or other
sketches
● Flow chart is a list of instructions that flow from one to the next and allow you to make
decisions, which lead to different paths.
● In a flowchart, you’re asked a series of questions, whose answer is one of two choices: yes or
no.
● Depending on your answer, you follow certain paths through the flowchart and will
eventually end up at a final answer.
Flowchart Example
Approaches to Programming
Programming
• The basic concepts you’ll learn that can apply to any programming language
are as follows
▪ Using variables, expressions, and statements in programming
▪ Getting the program to make decisions based on conditions
▪ Getting the program to automatically repeat tasks under some conditions
▪ Reusing operations built into the language to help you be more efficient
▪ Making your code more readable and easy to maintain by breaking a larger
task into smaller ones
▪ Knowing which data structure (a structure already created that can store
information in a certain format) is appropriate to use in different situations
Python: Overview
• Python is a high-level, general-purpose programming language known for its simplicity and
readability.
• It is widely used across various domains due to its versatility and ease of learning.
• Key Features
• Simple and Readable Syntax: Python’s syntax is straightforward, making it easier to learn and use
compared to many other programming languages.
• Interpreted: Python code is executed line by line, which makes it easy to debug and test.
• Dynamically Typed: Python does not require explicit declaration of variable types; the type is determined
at runtime.
• Extensive Libraries: Python comes with a rich standard library and supports numerous third- party
libraries for data manipulation, machine learning, web development, and more.
• Cross-Platform: Python code can run on different operating systems (Windows, MacOS, Linux) without
modification.
• Open-Source: Python is free to use and has a large community that contributes to its development and maintenance.
Python: Applications
• Python is used across multiple areas:
▪ Web Development: Frameworks like Django and Flask help build robust web
applications.
▪ Data Analysis and Machine Learning: Libraries like Pandas, NumPy, Scikit- learn,
TensorFlow, and PyTorch make Python a favorite among data scientists.
▪ Automation and Scripting: Python is widely used for automating repetitive tasks.
▪ Scientific Computing: Libraries like SciPy and Matplotlib enable scientific research and
engineering tasks.
▪ Game Development: Python supports game development through libraries like Pygame.
▪ Embedded Systems and IoT: Python is used in devices like Raspberry Pi.
▪ Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP): Python
▪ powers AI and NLP applications through specialized libraries.
Your first program

print(“Hello world”)