01. Python Overview and Setup

🐍 Embark on your Python journey! This guide covers everything from Python's origins and key features to setting up your development environment and writing your first program. Get ready to unlock the power of Python! 🚀

Posted Oct 6, 2025 Updated Oct 7, 2025

By Youth Innovations

10 min read

What we will learn in this post?

👉 Introduction to Python
👉 Key Features of Python
👉 History and Evolution of Python
👉 Python 3.13 - What's New?
👉 Setting Up Python Development Environment
👉 Python IDEs and Text Editors
👉 Writing Your First Python Program
👉 Conclusion!

Python: Your All-Purpose Programming Pal 🐍

Python is a fantastic, easy-to-learn programming language. It’s like a super-powered Swiss Army knife for computers!

What Can Python Do? ⚙️

Python is incredibly versatile. It’s used for:

Web Development: Building websites and apps (backend stuff!).
Data Science: Analyzing data to find cool insights. 📊
AI/ML: Creating intelligent machines and algorithms.🤖
Automation: Making repetitive tasks automatic. ⏰
And much, much more!

Why is Python so Popular? 🤔

Python is loved because:

It’s easy to read (almost like plain English!).
It has a huge community offering support and libraries.
It’s used by big companies like Google, Netflix, and Spotify. 🏢

Currently, the latest version is Python 3.13. Start learning Python today and open up a world of possibilities! 🚀

Further Resources

Python’s Awesome Features 🐍

Let’s explore what makes Python so popular and easy to love!

Why Python Rocks: Key Features

Simplicity and Readability ✨: Python’s syntax is super clean and easy to understand, like reading plain English.
1 2 3 # Example: Simple if statement if age >= 18: print("You can vote!")
Unlike other languages with lots of confusing symbols, Python keeps it simple.

Interpreted Nature ⚙️: Python code is executed line by line. This makes debugging easier because you can find errors quickly. It doesn’t need to be compiled into machine code before running, saving you time!

graph LR
A([📄 Source Code]):::source --> B((🔧 Interpreter)):::interpreter;
B --> C{⚡ Execute Line}:::execute;
C -->|Yes| D([✅ Output/Error]):::output;
C -->|No| C;

classDef source fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:3px,stroke-dasharray:5;
classDef interpreter fill:#e74c3c,stroke:#c0392b,stroke-width:3px;
classDef execute fill:#f39c12,stroke:#e67e22,stroke-width:2px;
classDef output fill:#27ae60,stroke:#16a085,stroke-width:2px,stroke-dasharray:3;

Dynamic Typing ✏️: You don’t have to declare variable types in Python. The interpreter figures it out for you!
1 2 3 # Example: Dynamic Typing x = 10 # x is an integer x = "Hello" # x is now a string
Extensive Standard Library 📚: Python comes with a huge collection of modules and functions ready to use. Need to work with files, web requests, or math? Python has you covered.
1 2 3 # Example: Using the math module import math print(math.sqrt(25)) # Output: 5.0

Cross-Platform Compatibility 💻: Python runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and more! Write code once, run it almost anywhere.

graph LR
A([🐍 Python Code]):::code --> B([🪟 Windows]):::windows;
A --> C([🍎 MacOS]):::macos;
A --> D([🐧 Linux]):::linux;

classDef code fill:#9b59b6,stroke:#8e44ad,stroke-width:4px,stroke-dasharray:5;
classDef windows fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:3px;
classDef macos fill:#34495e,stroke:#2c3e50,stroke-width:3px;
classDef linux fill:#f39c12,stroke:#e67e22,stroke-width:3px;

Extra Resources 🌐

For even more information, check out these links:

Python’s Amazing Journey 🐍

Python, a super popular coding language, started in 1991 with Guido van Rossum. He wanted a language that was easy to read and powerful.

Major Milestones 🚀

Python quickly grew, becoming a favorite for beginners and experts alike. A big turning point was the move from Python 2 to Python 3. Python 3 made some big changes to clean up the language, but it meant old Python 2 code sometimes needed tweaking.

Python 3.6: Introduced f-strings for easier string formatting.
Python 3.10: Added pattern matching, a way to make code cleaner when checking different conditions.
Python 3.12: Showed off better error messages and performance improvements.
Python 3.13: More speed enhancements and developer experience upgrades are expected.

Python keeps evolving, staying modern and useful! The development continues with new features to make it an even more powerful tool. 🧑‍💻

graph LR
    A([🎯 Python 1.0]):::v1 --> B((🚀 Python 2.0)):::v2
    B --> C{⭐ Python 3.0}:::v3;
    C --> D([💎 Python 3.6]):::v36;
    C --> E([🔥 Python 3.10]):::v310;
    C --> F([⚡ Python 3.12]):::v312;
    C --> G([🌟 Python 3.13]):::v313;

    classDef v1 fill:#95a5a6,stroke:#7f8c8d,stroke-width:2px;
    classDef v2 fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:3px;
    classDef v3 fill:#e74c3c,stroke:#c0392b,stroke-width:4px,stroke-dasharray:5;
    classDef v36 fill:#f39c12,stroke:#e67e22,stroke-width:2px;
    classDef v310 fill:#9b59b6,stroke:#8e44ad,stroke-width:2px;
    classDef v312 fill:#1abc9c,stroke:#16a085,stroke-width:2px;
    classDef v313 fill:#e67e22,stroke:#d35400,stroke-width:3px,stroke-dasharray:3;

📚 For more info:

Alright, let’s dive into the exciting new features of Python 3.13! 🚀

Python 3.13: What’s New?

Python 3.13 (released October 2024) brings some game-changing improvements! Here’s what makes it special:

🚀 Experimental JIT Compiler (Just-In-Time)

Python 3.13 introduces an experimental JIT compiler that can make your code run significantly faster! In some cases, you can see up to 2x performance improvements. While it’s still experimental, this is a huge step forward for Python’s speed.

# Enable JIT when running Python
# python --enable-experimental-jit your_script.py

🔓 Free-Threaded Mode (No GIL!)

This is MASSIVE! Python 3.13 can now run without the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) using the --disable-gil flag. This means true parallel processing for CPU-intensive tasks! Before this, Python could only run one thread at a time, even on multi-core processors.

# Run Python without GIL for better multi-threading
# python --disable-gil your_parallel_script.py

📱 Mobile Platform Support

Python now officially supports iOS and Android as tier-3 platforms! You can build Python apps for mobile devices natively. This opens up exciting new possibilities for mobile development with Python.

🎨 Better Error Messages & REPL

Error messages are now even more informative. They provide clearer guidance, helping you debug your code faster. The interactive shell (REPL) also got major upgrades:

Smarter suggestions: Python guesses what you meant when you make typos
Multi-line editing: Edit code across multiple lines easily
Syntax highlighting: Colors in your terminal make code easier to read

  
# Example of improved error messages:
>>> print(name)
NameError: name 'name' is not defined. Did you mean: 'main'?

🗑️ Deprecations & Removals

Python 3.13 cleaned house! Some old, rarely-used features from the Python 2 era have been removed:

Removed 20-year-old deprecated functions
wave.Wave_read.getmarkers() and related methods removed
locale.getdefaultlocale() deprecated (use locale.setlocale() instead)

This keeps Python modern and easier to maintain!

Resources

Check the official Python documentation and “What’s New” section for the most comprehensive and up-to-date information:
- Python Official Documentation
- What’s New In Python 3.13

Remember to always refer to the official documentation for the complete and accurate details! Happy coding! 🐍✨

Installing Python 3.13: A Friendly Guide 🐍

This guide will walk you through installing Python 3.13 on Windows, macOS, and Linux! Let’s get started!

Step-by-Step Installation

Windows:
1. Download the installer from Python.org.
2. Run the installer. Important: Check “Add Python 3.13 to PATH” during installation!
3. Click “Install Now.”
macOS:
1. Download the macOS installer from Python.org.
2. Open the .pkg file and follow the on-screen instructions.
3. The installer usually sets up the PATH automatically.
Linux:
1. Use your distribution’s package manager. For example, on Debian/Ubuntu: sudo apt update && sudo apt install python3.13
2. On Fedora/CentOS/RHEL: sudo dnf install python3.13

Verifying Installation & Setting PATH

Open your command prompt or terminal.
Type python3.13 --version or python --version if python3.13 is your main Python.
If you get an error, you might need to manually set the PATH.
Windows (If needed): Search “environment variables,” edit system variables, and add C:\Users\<YourUser>\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python313 and C:\Users\<YourUser>\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python313\Scripts to the Path variable.
macOS/Linux (If needed): Edit your .bashrc or .zshrc file (usually in your home directory). Add export PATH="/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.13/bin:$PATH" (macOS) or export PATH="/usr/bin/python3.13:$PATH" (Linux). Then, run source ~/.bashrc or source ~/.zshrc.

Installing Pip 📦

Pip should be installed automatically with Python 3.13. Verify by typing pip3.13 --version or pip --version in your command prompt/terminal.
If pip is missing:
1. Download get-pip.py from bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py.
2. Run python3.13 get-pip.py or python get-pip.py from your command prompt/terminal.

You’re all set! Happy coding! 🎉

Python Development Environments: A Quick Tour 🚀

Choosing the right place to write your Python code is super important! Think of it like picking the right tools for a job. Here’s a quick peek at some popular options:

The Big Players 🌟

PyCharm: This is like the deluxe option. It’s a powerful IDE (Integrated Development Environment) made specifically for Python. It has tons of features like smart code completion, debugging, and support for web frameworks like Django and Flask. Great for bigger projects! Think of it as your professional toolbox.
VS Code (Visual Studio Code): Super popular and versatile! VS Code is a lightweight, customizable editor that can be turned into a powerful Python IDE with extensions. It’s free and works with many languages. Many people loves it! Highly recommended if you are looking for a free and powerful tools! VS Code Python Documentation
Jupyter Notebook: Imagine a digital notebook where you can write code, add text, and see your results right away. Perfect for learning, experimenting, and data science. It’s interactive and great for sharing your work.

The Simple & Classic Options 📚

IDLE: This is the basic editor that comes with Python. Simple and easy to use, great for beginners. Its more of a note pad like environment, but a great learning tool.
Sublime Text: A fast and flexible text editor. It doesn’t have all the fancy features of PyCharm, but it’s quick to load and you can add features with plugins.

Here’s a simple diagram to help you decide:

graph TD
    A([📊 Project Size]):::size --> B{🔹 Small}:::small
    A --> C{🔸 Medium}:::medium
    A --> D{🔶 Large}:::large

    B --> E([📝 IDLE/Sublime Text]):::basic
    C --> F([💻 VS Code/Jupyter]):::advanced
    D --> G([🚀 PyCharm]):::professional

    classDef size fill:#e74c3c,stroke:#c0392b,stroke-width:4px,stroke-dasharray:5;
    classDef small fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:2px;
    classDef medium fill:#f39c12,stroke:#e67e22,stroke-width:2px;
    classDef large fill:#e67e22,stroke:#d35400,stroke-width:2px;
    classDef basic fill:#95a5a6,stroke:#7f8c8d,stroke-width:2px;
    classDef advanced fill:#9b59b6,stroke:#8e44ad,stroke-width:3px;
    classDef professional fill:#27ae60,stroke:#16a085,stroke-width:3px,stroke-dasharray:3;

In Short: Find the right environment that fits your style and project. Good luck coding! 💻

Hello, World! in Python 🐍

Let’s get started with Python! This guide will walk you through creating and running your first “Hello, World!” program.

The Basic “Hello, World!”

Writing this program is super simple:

  
print("Hello, World!")

This single line is all you need! The print() function displays text on your screen.

Output: Hello, World!

Running Your Code

From the Command Line

Save the code above in a file named hello.py.
Open your terminal or command prompt.
Navigate to the directory where you saved hello.py.
Type python hello.py and press Enter. You should see “Hello, World!” printed.

Using an IDE

Most IDEs (Integrated Development Environments) like VS Code or PyCharm have a run button. Just open your hello.py file in the IDE and click the run button. The output will usually appear in a console window within the IDE.

A Little More Fun: User Input

Let’s make it interactive:

  
name = input("What's your name? ")
print("Hello, " + name + "!")

This code first asks the user for their name using the input() function and then greets them personally.

Output:
What's your name? Alice
Hello, Alice!

Code Structure

print(): A built-in Python function that displays text.
input(): A built-in function that prompts the user for input.
Strings: Text enclosed in double quotes (e.g., "Hello, World!").
Variables: Used to store values (e.g., name).

For a deeper dive, check out the official Python documentation. Happy coding! 🚀

Conclusion

So, what are your thoughts? Did anything in this post resonate with you? 🤔 We’d love to hear your experiences, feedback, or even just a simple “hello!” 👋 Drop a comment below and let’s chat! 👇 Your insights make this community even better. 🤗

Programming, Python, Getting Started

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