Python level 1

Thursday, November 10
9:30am–12:30pm Pacific Time

This course will start at 9:30am Pacific Time and will run until 12:30pm Pacific Time.

Course materials will be added here shortly before the start of the course.

There is a single free registration for the entire autumn school.

This introductory course will walk you through the basics of programming in Python. We will cover the main language features: variables and data types, conditionals, lists, for/while loops, list comprehensions, dictionaries, and writing functions.

Note that this course is a prerequisite for our more advanced Python courses later in the year.

Instructors: Marie-Helene Burle & Alex Razoumov (SFU)

Prerequisites: None.

Software: We will be using Python on our training cluster, so no need to install it on your computer. However, in the long run you would probably benefit from Python on your computer, so you might want to look into this. During the workshop you will likely need a remote secure shell (SSH) client installed on your computer in order to participate in the course exercises. On Windows we recommend the free Home Edition of MobaXterm. On Mac and Linux computers SSH is usually pre-installed (try typing ssh in a terminal to make sure it is there).

Zoom: first session (Marie)
9:30am-11:00am Pacific
Setup and various ways to run Python
Variables and data types
Built-in functions and help
Conditionals

Zoom: second session (Alex)
11:00am-12:30pm Pacific
Lists
Loops
Dictionaries
Writing functions
Variable scope and floating precision
Libraries, virtual environments and packaging