C4DLab Python Bootcamp

Version 1.0 (c) Oct, 2014

Code snippets for starting off Python (for beginners).

Aim: to introduce you to Python and make you love it. It's just a tip of the iceberg. Do not expect to be a guru/beast/ninja in 4 days (actually 4 x 2 hours)! But you will be surely way better :) This short course (bootcamp) only aims to get you started with Python!

Official Website : c4dlab.ac.ke/python HashTag : #c4dlabpython - On Twitter and Google+, use it for comments, questions, shout-outs, etc, it's 21st Century Learning :) Join Bootcamps Google Group

##Schedule##

###Bootcamp #1 ###

8hr Python Bootcamp @ C4DLab, October 27-30, 2014 (6-8pm).

Taught by @profnandaa / Teaching Assistants: @shimanyi, @AlexanderMwangi

####Day 1 of 4 ####

• Introduction and Installation
• Using the Terminal and IDE
• Hello World and the Basics

####Day 2 of 4 ####

• Working with Files (.py)
• Exploring Python Basics
• Operators and Expressions
• Control Flows
• Assignment #1

####Day 3 of 4 ####

• Data Structures Overview (check pg. 62 of the A Byte of Python book)
  • List
  • Tuple
  • Dictionary
  • Set
• Control Flows
• Functions
• Modules
• Assignment #2

####Day 4 of 4 ####

• Control Flows
• Functions
• Modules
• Input/Output (covered in Day 3)
• Standard Library
• What Next?
• Assignment #3
• Coding Challenge (To be Announced)

##Assignments##

1. Day 2

   • Write simple code expression(s) for finding hypotenuse given a and b
   • Write simple code expression(s) for finding x in a quadratic equation given x² + 5x + 3 = 0 (Hint: check quadratic formula)

2. Day 3

   • Revise data structures learnt in Day 3

3. Day 4

   • Coming...

##Thing to do before end of Bootcamp##

• Join the C4DLab Bootcamp Mailinglist - c4dlab-bootcamps[at]googlegroups.com
• Sign up on:
  • GitHub
  • BitBucket
  • StackOverflow
  • oDesk
• Move to a UNIX flavour if you are still on Windows (What were you thinking? ;) ) - see discussions like these ones.
• Get to know a new person from the class :)
• Sign up on Udacity and start learning great stuff on your own and at your own pace!
• Fill the End-of-Bootcamp (EOB) Survey, let's know what you think.

##Links to Presentations##

• Day 2
• Day 3
• Day 4 - no presentation, just code

##Further Reading##

• A Byte of Python - a minimal 118 pages (yes 118, it's not typo!) that no sane person should be afraid to read :)
• Static vs. dynamic typing of programming languages
• Official documentation on Data Structures

##Follow up after Bootcamp## We will be offering free follow-up services after the bootcamp. ###Email### Feel free to ping any of us, whenever you need any help:

• Class Mailinglist - [email protected]
• @ProfNandaa - prof[at]nandaa.com
• @shimanyi - shimanyi[at]sisitech.com
• @AlexanderMwangi - alexandermwangi1[at]gmail.com

###Office Hours### We will provide face-to-face consultations (November - December, 2014) on:

• Wednesdays 4-5 pm
• Fridays 2-3 pm

##So you know some Python, what next?## Here are a few suggestions for you: ###Recommended Online Courses ###

• Udacity: CS101 - Intro to Computer Science - uses Python to introduce Computer Science concepts. Highly recommended for first-time programmers and CS majors alike.
• Udacity: Programming Foundations with Python
• Udacity: How to use Git and GitHub

###Get a bunch of Python nerds### A good place to get them is here:

• Nairobi Python User Group (NaiPUG)
• TBD

###Recommended Books###

• David M. Beazley (2006), Python: Essential Reference, 3rd Ed. - for a better understanding of the language
• TBD

###Moving on to Django###

• Forcier,J., Bissex,P. & Chun,W. (2009), Python Web Development with Django, 3rd. Ed.

###Others###

• CodingBat.com