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starting to code

Q: I’ve never heard of Python. Is it Q: Will Python run on my phone, just Q: So what if we’d left it out?

popular? like Java?
A: The computer would have treated the
A: Python is used in lots of cool places. A: That really depends on your phone. input entered by the user of the program as
Google, Industrial Light & Magic, YouTube, Python is designed to run on lots of a letter. If you ask the computer if a letter
and NASA (to name a few) all use Python. different technologies and operating is equal to a number, it gets confused and
We think they know what they’re doing. systems. Running your own code on your tells you it isn’t.
Q: So, when I’m done with this own phone is a very specific requirement, Q: Why’s that?
and Java has that pretty well covered at
book I’ll throw Python away and use the moment. As a programming technology,
something else, like C# or Java? Java was initially designed to run on very A: Because if the computer thinks that
small devices, so it is no big surprise that
it is a strong and popular choice when it two pieces of information are of different
A: Only if you want to. Python might be comes to telephony. “types,” it assumes that there’s no way they
the only programming language you’ll ever can be equal.
need. But, yes, if you want to learn another
programming language, you can take Q: Why is the Python IDE called Q: So what if I had not typed a
everything you learn about programming in IDLE? number when I was asked for a guess?
this book and apply it to any other language What if I’d just entered my name or
with the minimum of effort. A: It’s partly because it sounds like IDE, something?
but we suspect that it has more to do with
Q: But a buddy of mine told me I Eric Idle, one of the founding members of A: The code would have crashed with an
should learn Java or C#. Why are you the Monty Python’s Flying Circus comedy error. In fact, Python will complain that the
not using either of these programming group. program crashed with a “ValueError” (more
languages in this book? on these error messages later in the book).
Q: Come again?!? Monty Python’s
A: Both Java and C# are great Flying what?
programming technologies, but they can be
difficult to learn, especially when you are A: Circus. Yes, we know: sounds silly,
just starting out. This is not the case with doesn’t it? And, believe us, it is. It’s funny,
Python. And, anyway, this is a book that’s too. The creator of Python, Guido van
designed to teach you how to program, and Rossum, is a big Monthy Python fan and
using Python as your first programming reportedly watched the show’s reruns
language will help us to do just that. while he designed Python. You’ll find lots
of references to Monty Python folklore in
Q: There seems to be many different the Python community. Dead parrots are a
versions of Python. Which should I use? particular favorite.
Q:

A: There are two main releases of What does int(g) mean?
Python: 2 and 3. This book is based on
release 3 of the language. Python 3 is the A: It tells Python to interpret the user’s
future of the language; any new features input as a number rather than a letter.
are guaranteed to be added to release 3 Within programming languages, the number
of the language, not release 2. Of course, 5 is different than the letter ‘5’.
like all releases, Python 3 remains a free
download, which makes it a no-brainer
when decidiing if you can afford to use it.
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