Python Basics

What you will learn

1. 1.1Getting Started4 lessons

   What Python is, how the Python interpreter runs code, installing Python 3, setting up VS Code, and running your first program.

   1. What is Python?10 min
   2. Install Python on your computer15 min
   3. Set up VS Code for Python15 min
   4. Your first Python program20 min
2. 1.2Variables & Data Types5 lessons

   Understand Python's name-binding model, dynamic typing, arbitrary-precision integers, floats, strings, booleans, casting, and None.

   1. Variables and Name Binding15 min
   2. Numeric Types: int and float15 min
   3. Strings and Booleans15 min
   4. Type Casting and None15 min
   5. Variables and Data Types Checkpoint20 min
3. 1.3Operators5 lessons

   Master arithmetic operators, true division vs floor division, compound assignment, chained comparisons, and short-circuit logical operators.

   1. Arithmetic Operators15 min
   2. Assignment and Compound Operators15 min
   3. Comparison Operators15 min
   4. Logical and Membership Operators15 min
   5. Operators Checkpoint20 min
4. 1.4Input & Output4 lessons

   Print data with custom separators (sep) and line endings (end), build f-strings with format specifiers, and read user input with input().

   1. Printing with sep and end15 min
   2. Formatted Output with f-strings15 min
   3. Reading User Input15 min
   4. Input and Output Checkpoint20 min
5. 1.5Conditional Statements6 lessons

   Branching with if and if-else, multi-way branching with elif, ternary expressions, and Python 3.10+ match-case structural pattern matching.

   1. The if and if-else Statements15 min
   2. The elif Ladder and Logical Conditions15 min
   3. Nested Conditions and Ternary Expressions15 min
   4. Structural Pattern Matching (match-case)15 min
   5. Conditional Statements Checkpoint20 min
   6. Must-do problems: Conditional Statements90 min
6. 1.6Loops6 lessons

   Master while loops, sequence iteration with for and range(), break/continue, the unique Python loop-else clause, and nested loops.

   1. The while Loop15 min
   2. The for Loop and range()15 min
   3. break, continue, and the Loop-else Clause15 min
   4. Nested Loops and Grid Traversal15 min
   5. Loops Checkpoint20 min
   6. Must-do problems: Loops90 min
7. 1.7Functions6 lessons

   Define modular functions with def, pass positional and keyword arguments, default parameters, *args, **kwargs, LEGB scope, and lambdas.

   1. Defining and Calling Functions15 min
   2. Parameters and Arguments15 min
   3. Default Arguments, *args, and **kwargs15 min
   4. Scope (LEGB Rule) and Lambda Functions15 min
   5. Functions Checkpoint20 min
   6. Must-do problems: Functions90 min
8. 1.8Lists6 lessons

   Master Python's dynamic array: creation, 0-based and negative indexing, slicing [start:stop:step], list methods (append, pop, sort), comprehensions, and nested matrices.

   1. What is a List?15 min
   2. List Methods and Mutations15 min
   3. Looping and List Comprehensions15 min
   4. Nested Lists and Matrices15 min
   5. Lists Checkpoint20 min
   6. Must-do problems: Lists90 min
9. 1.9Tuples & Unpacking4 lessons

   Group values that should not change, split them into separate names, swap values in one line, and use tuples with functions, zip and enumerate.

   1. What is a Tuple?15 min
   2. Unpacking and Swapping15 min
   3. Tuples in Practice15 min
   4. Tuples Checkpoint20 min
10. 1.10Strings6 lessons

    Unicode strings in Python: indexing and slicing, essential transformation methods (strip, lower, upper, replace), search/validation, and split/join.

    1. String Indexing and Slicing15 min
    2. Essential String Methods15 min
    3. Search and Validation Methods15 min
    4. Splitting and Joining Strings15 min
    5. Strings Checkpoint20 min
    6. Must-do problems: Strings90 min
11. 1.11Dictionaries & Sets6 lessons

    Master Python's built-in hash tables: key-value dictionaries, safe lookups with .get(), dict comprehensions, unique sets, and mathematical set algebra.

    1. Dictionaries: Key-Value Mapping15 min
    2. Dictionary Methods and Comprehensions15 min
    3. Sets: Unique Collections and Membership15 min
    4. Mathematical Set Operations15 min
    5. Dictionaries and Sets Checkpoint20 min
    6. Must-do problems: Dictionaries and Sets90 min
12. 1.12Exception Handling6 lessons

    Master robust error handling in Python: understand tracebacks, handle runtime errors with try and except, manage cleanup with else and finally, and raise custom exception classes.

    1. What is an Exception?15 min
    2. The try and except Blocks15 min
    3. The Full Handler: try-except-else-finally15 min
    4. Raising Exceptions and Custom Errors15 min
    5. Exception Handling Checkpoint20 min
    6. Must-do problems: Exception Handling80 min
13. 1.13Modules & Imports4 lessons

    Use import, from and as with math, random and datetime, write your own module with the main guard, and install packages with pip.

    1. Importing from the Standard Library15 min
    2. Writing Your Own Modules15 min
    3. Packages and pip15 min
    4. Modules and Imports Checkpoint20 min
14. 1.14Files & Data Formats6 lessons

    Read and write text files, handle paths and missing files, and work with CSV and JSON data.

    1. Reading and Writing Text Files18 min
    2. Paths with pathlib and Missing Files18 min
    3. CSV Files with the csv Module20 min
    4. JSON Files with the json Module20 min
    5. Files and Data Formats Checkpoint25 min
    6. Must-do problems: Files and Data Formats75 min
15. 1.15Python Basics Mini Projects5 lessons

    Put Python Basics together across five comprehensive real-world projects: an e-commerce cart, server log telemetry analyzer, crypto portfolio tracker, password security auditor, and warehouse inventory manager.

    1. Build an E-Commerce Cart & Checkout Engine45 min
    2. Build a Server Access Log Analyzer45 min
    3. Build an Asset Portfolio Tracker50 min
    4. Build a Password Strength Auditor50 min
    5. Build a Warehouse Inventory Manager60 min