Head First Python

Chapter 1. Meet Python: Everyone loves lists

You’re asking one question: “What makes Python different?” The short answer is: lots of things. The longer answers starts by stating that there’s lots that’s familiar, too. Python is a lot like any other general-purpose programming language, with statements, expressions, operators, functions, modules, methods, and classes. All the usual stuff, really. And then there’s the other stuff Python provides that makes the programmer’s life—your life—that little bit easier. You’ll start your tour of Python by learning about lists. But, before getting to that, there’s another important question that needs answering...

What’s to like about Python?

Lots. Rather than tell you, this book’s goal is to show you the greatness that is Python.

Before diving head first into Python, let’s get a bit of housekeeping out of the way.

To work with and execute the Python code in this book, you need a copy of the Python 3 interpreter on your computer. Like a lot of things to do with Python, it’s not difficult to install the interpreter. Assuming, of course, it’s not already there...

Install Python 3

Before you write and run Python code, you need to make sure the Python interpreter is on your computer. In this book, you’ll start out with Release 3 of Python, the very latest ...