Programming with Python
=======================

Understanding what Python is and what it can be used for
--------------------------------------------------------

What is programming?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

**A way to instruct a computer to perform tasks.**

There are numerous programming languages, the choice of which can depend
upon:

-  **Availability** within the given context
-  **Suitability** for performing a particular task
-  **Knowledge** of the programmer and other users

What is Python?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

**A high-level, popular, general-purpose programming language.**

-  **High-level**: closer to human languages than machine code; very
   **readable** and relatively **simple syntax**
-  **Popular**: expected to become the most **popular** programming
   language (and already is by some metrics)
-  **General-purpose**: can be used for a wide **variety of
   applications**, such as games, web apps, and data analysis

Python for Data Analysis
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

-  Numerous **open-source packages** created and maintained by an active
   and growing Python community, to **simplify programming** for:

   -  Data **processing**, **analysis** and **visualisation**
   -  Data collection via **APIs** and **web scraping**
   -  **Machine learning** and predictive modelling

Python for Data Analysis
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

-  Ability to **handle larger volumes of data** in a more **robust**,
   **repeatable** manner and with greater control than traditional
   spreadsheet applications such as Excel

   -  Repeated operations are carried out more efficiently
   -  Program logic is not hidden within the user interface

Where Python can be written and executed
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

-  via the **command-line** interface

   -  **Command Prompt** on Windows or **Terminal** on Mac / Linux
   -  text-based with **limited formatting** of outputs

-  via an **IDE** (Integrated Development Environment)

   -  typically with features such as **syntax highlighting** and
      **debugging tools**

-  via an **interactive notebook** interface

   -  typically with features such **formatted display of code output**
      and the ability to **combine code with other media** such as
      **text** and **images**

Jupyter notebook
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A web-based, interactive computing notebook interface:

-  Create documents containing live **code**, **visualisations** and
   **narrative text**
-  Embed **HTML**, **images** and **videos** and use **interactive
   widgets**
-  Support for **numerous programming languages** (originally Julia,
   Python and R)

Notebook components
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

-  A **kernel** is a program which runs the code cells in a notebook

   -  such as our installation of **Python**

-  A notebook is made of different types of **cells**:

   -  **Markdown cells** can be used to add headings, notes and text
      lists
   -  **Code cells** contain code compatible with the selected kernel

-  Additional functionality and numerous **extensions** available, such
   as:

   -  Slideshow creation
   -  Code formatting tools