I've had three people ask me in the last two months about how to learn Python, so I've decided to start doing a tutorial! It'll be really easy, designed for someone who doesn't know any programming. Also, it shouldn't take more than about 5 minutes for each lesson! Alright, you didn't come here to listen to me yap, let's start!
First, some ground rules.
1. Type things yourself - Don't just copy what I type and paste it into your own window. you won't learn anything that way. They'll be short, I promise.
2. Ask questions - Please. I'm new at this, and I'll probably miss something that I take for granted but probably looks like voodoo to others. It's not, I promise.
3. Have fun - Yeah, this sounds like an obligatory rule just to fill out the nice round "Three" number. Well it is. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't have fun! I won't post anything that I won't laugh at myself*, I promise.
* and trust me, I laugh at myself all the time.
Install Python!
Alright you maggots! (TF2 reference...) Go to http://www.python.org/download.
If you're on Windows, download Python 3.2.1 Windows X86 MSI Installer (or the X86-64 bit installer if you have a 64 bit machine. Don't know if you have a 64 bit machine? Then assume you don't). Double click on the install file and use the default for everything (keep hitting Next, OK and Finish until the box goes away).
If you're on a Mac, download Python 3.2.1 Mac OS X 32-bit i386/PPC Installer (or the other one if you have a Puma instead of a Tabby or whatever). Double click (or whatever Mac people do) on the install file and use the default for everything.
If you're on Linux, and you don't know how to download Python, you need to set down your older sibling's computer and go shout profanities on Modern Warfare.
Now find the shortcut called "_IDLE (Python GUI)_". It'll be either on your desktop or in your Start Menu or Applications folder under Python 3.2. This is what we'll be using for most of the other tutorials.
Congratulations! You can now program!
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