Python as a Second Language: An Introduction to Python 3

by Steven L. Tanimoto

Python is a programming language growing in popularity that has characteristics that make it amenable to applications in rapid prototyping, scripting, and experimental programming such as that done in artificial intelligence research. Here, we introduce the language to readers who we assume already know how to program, but in another language, like Java, C, or C++. This document is a brief introduction to Python. Python has many capabilities and options that cannot be covered in a short tutorial. The focus here is on (a) language basics, and (b) features that illustrate programming language concepts.

This is not intended as an introduction to programming in general. We assume the reader is already familiar not only with the programming process, but with all the common programming constructs, such as sequences of instructions, the idea of syntax, conditional execution, loops, fundamental data types such as integers, floating-point numbers, boolean values, and strings, and function calling, function definition, and the notion of object-oriented classes, instances, and methods. We assume the reader is already familiar with data structures such as arrays, linked lists, stacks, and queues.

115 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 17, 2013