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ajenec
ajenec

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The Multi-Tool: Introduction to Python

#beginners #productivity #python #programming

As a coder who’s just mastered JavaScript, you're probably hungry for your next challenge, or maybe you're just starting you're coding journey. Either way, Python is a great language to have in your toolkit. It is easy to read, beginner-friendly, and one of the most popular programming languages in the world, currently ranked #1 on the TIOBE index. Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language with dynamic semantics. In simpler terms, it is versatile and doesn't require compiling your code to run it. Developers use it for everything from websites and task automation to machine learning, and even powering applications like Netflix.

One reason it's so widely loved is that its syntax reads almost like plain English, making it easier to maintain, write, and debug. While reading this, I'll walk you through what makes Python a great tool for developers, how it compares to JavaScript, and show you syntax and features to get you started.

Why Learn Python?

Learning Python gives you access to a completely different side of the development world. While JavaScript is good for building great interactive web applications, Python is the go to language for solving problems behind the scenes. Unlike JavaScript, which started from the browser and adapted for back-end development, Python was designed from the beginning to be general purpose and expressive. Engineers at companies like Google and NASA use it because its powerful, readable, and well-supported.

Python is the most versatile computer programming language, allowing developers to use it for:

  • Data Mining
  • Data Analytics
  • Data Visualization
  • AI and machine learning (like training an AI model to write poetry or detect cancer cells)
  • Building apps
  • Web Development and Web Application Development
  • Developing games
  • Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis
  • Data Engineering

There are a few other capabilities of Python, which is why it is being used more across more industries. Think of Python as a Swiss Army knife for developers.

Python vs JavaScript

While both are very useful, they each shine in different areas. JavaScript is the best for building a web interface but Python excels in data-heavy tasks, automation, and fast development. If programming languages were tools in a workshop, JavaScript would be
a power drill; fast and focused. Python would be a multi-tool that folds out to whatever you need.

Key Differences:

  • Syntax: Python uses indentation instead of curly braces, which forces you to write clean and readable code.
  • Typing: Python leans more toward clarity and consistency, to allow the developer to focus on problem solving.
  • Use Cases: Python dominates AI, data science, automation, and scripting.

Commonalities:

  • Both support object-oriented and functional programming.
  • Both have large, supportive communities. Giving you opportunities for feedback.
  • You can build a full-stack application using either.

The Set-Up: Getting Started with Python

  1. Install Python

Go to python.org, and download the latest version for your operating system. On Windows, make sure to check the box that says "Add Python to PATH" during installation.

  1. Check installation

Open a terminal and type:

   python3 --version
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  1. Run your first Python script

Create a new file:

   touch hello.py
   touch good-bye.txt
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To run your file:

   python hello.py
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Python in Practice

Here, we'll breakdown some core concepts in Python and compare them with JavaScript, so you can clearly see how the languages are similar and where they differ.

Variables & Data Types

In JavaScript, we use let, const, or var to declare a variable:

// JavaScript

let name = "Janice";
const age = 23;
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But Python, variable declaration is simpler. There's no keyword needed, you just assign a value.

# Python

name = 'Janice'  # STRING
age = 23         # INTEGER
pi = 3.14        # FLOAT
has_job = False  # BOOLEAN
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Functions & Code Blocks

Functions in JavaScript are often declared using function or arrow syntax:

// JavaScript

const callMe = (name) => {
  console.log("Hi", name);
};

callMe("Jane");
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In Python, you use the def keyword to declare a function, followed by the function name and parameters:

# Python

def call_me(name):
    print('Hi ',name)

call_me('Jason') # This is how you execute a function
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Pay attention to indentation! Python uses indentation to define blocks of code. There are no brackets like in JavaScript.

Conditionals

Conditional logic or if statements, tells your program how to make decisions. Here's how it looks in both languages:

// JavaScript

const balance = 42;

if (balance > 20) {
  console.log("Congrats Your Rich!");
} else if (balance < 10) {
  console.log("Back to Work...");
} else {
  console.log("Keep Grinding!");
}
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# Python

balance = 42

if balance > 20:
    print('Congrats Your Rich!')
elif balance < 10:
    print('Back to Work...')
else:
    print('Keep Grinding!')
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Key Differences:

  • Python uses elif instead of else if
  • There are no parentheses or curly braces required in Python
  • Python uses a colon : after the condition

Lists and Dictionaries

Python's list are like array in JavaScript and dict (dictionaries) are like a JavaScript object.

# Python

dinner = ['Greens', 'Beans', 'Tomatoes', 'Ham'] # List
table = { name: 'Sam', seat: 1, is_eating: True } # Dictionary
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// JavaScript

const dinner = ["Greens", "Beans", "Tomatoes", "Ham"];
const table = {
  name: "Sam",
  seat: 1,
  is_eating: True,
};
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In Python...

  • Lists are ordered collections: []
  • Dictionaries store key-value pairs: {'key': value}
  • True and False must be capitalized (unlike JavaScript)

Iteration

Loops let you repeat actions, and in Python are extremely simple!

# Python

dinner = ['Greens', 'Beans', 'Tomatoes', 'Ham']
serving_size = 2

# For Loop - loop through each item
for plate in dinner:
    print('Eating', plate)

#While Loop - run while a condition is true
while serving_size > 10:
    print('Still eating...')
    serving_size += 1
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// JavaScript

let dinner = ['Greens', 'Beans', 'Tomatoes', 'Ham'];
let servingSize = 2;

for(let i = 0; i < dinner.length; i++){
    console.log('Eating', dinner[i]);
}

while servingSize > 2{
    console.log('Still eating...');
    serving_size += 1;
}
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Conclusion & Tips For Learning Python

Learning Python has made me a better developer. It's helped me improve my problem-solving skills without having to worry about syntax. If you already know JavaScript, you'll be able to pick up on it quickly. JavaScript taught me web development, but Python helped solidify my coding and problem-solving skills.

Tips:

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