Boston Python Workshop 4/Friday

Welcome to the Friday evening section of the Boston Python Workshop!

When you get to MIT, please start your laptop and get on the wireless network. Try to join the one called "MIT", not "MIT GUEST". Then work through the goals on this page in order; they should take between 2 and 3 hours. Lots of staff will be around to help troubleshoot and to answer questions -- don't hesitate to ask!

At the end, a staff member will go through a checklist with you to make sure you're all set for tomorrow.

Goal #1: set up Python
This section has instructions for installing Python and running Python from a command prompt.


 * Windows
 * OS X
 * Linux

Goal #2: prepare a text editor
In addition to being able to run Python, we are going to install a good text editor for writing and saving Python code during the workshop.

If you would like to use a different text editor from the recommendation for your operating system, please let a staff member know.


 * Windows
 * OS X
 * Linux

Goal #3: practice starting and exiting Python
We'll do a lot of learning and practicing at a Python prompt (this is "interactive" because you are typing the code and hitting enter to run it yourself, instead of running it from a file). So let's practice starting and exiting Python:


 * Windows
 * OS X
 * Linux

Goal #4: practice navigating the computer from a command prompt
We will be running files containing Python code (Python "scripts") from the command prompt. You'll need to be able to navigate to those scripts using the command prompt so you can run them. In this section, we'll practice using these navigation commands.


 * Windows
 * OS X
 * Linux

Goal #5: practice running Python code from a file
Interactive Python programming at a Python prompt is great for short pieces of code and for testing ideas. For longer code, it can be easier to save the code in a file, and execute the contents of that file (aka a Python script). In this section, we'll practice running Python scripts.


 * Windows
 * OS X
 * Linux

Goal #6: get dependencies installed for the Saturday projects

 * Windows
 * OS X
 * Linux

Goal #7: start learning Python!
It's time to start learning, reading, and writing some Python! Tonight, you'll work through a self-directed tutorial. Saturday morning, we'll have an interactive lecture to cover more Python basics.

Work through the tutorial

Goal #8: Checkoff
Tell a staff member that you are ready to be checked off. Together you will go through the following check-off steps:

  Start a command prompt, and from that command prompt start Python. Then quit Python.   Create a new Python file (with a .py extension). In that file, type

print "Hello World"

and save the file. From a command prompt, navigate to and execute that Python script.   Open your text editor, and press "Tab". Use the left arrow key to show the instructor that you are using spaces to indent, not tabs.   To test the ColorWall installation: navigate to the ColorWall directory and run :

python run.py -a   To test the Wordplay installation: navigate to the Wordplay directory and run :

python words1.py  To test the Twitter installlation, navigate to the Twitter directory and run :

python twitter_api.py --search=python 

 What was the hardest part of the tutorial? How were the CodingBat questions? Review these parts briefly. If you have any questions about them, now's a great time to ask them!  

Congratulations!
You are done with the Friday portion of this Workshop. We'll see you at 9:45am tomorrow back here at MIT ( remember that we are in a different room tomorrow, 32-155 )! Please bring the laptop you used tonight.

If you have any questions, comments, or feedback on tonight's material, don't hesitate to let a staff member know.

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