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If you have questions about this week's lab ANY TA for this class can help you with any problems.

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Lecture

Python 🐍

Today we will be learning about Python! This lab session will be more self-guided than the last, so we'll get to downloading everything pretty soon.

Python for Everybody

Python for Everybody is a free online textbook published under the Creative Commons Licence that is a great starter and reference guide for python. Most of the lab excersises will be based on sections of Python for Everybody - in fact, its a great starting reference and could contain hints to solving every excersise, should you get stuck. It breaks down the basics of python and programming as a whole, as many of the concepts we'll cover talking about python apply to almost every programming language. The book itself is availible for purchase if you're really interested in a print copy, but it available as a PDF and epub from the writer for free. Some sections of Python for Everybody have been adapted from another book, How to think like a Computer Scientist: Learning with Python by Allen Downey, Jeff Elkner and Chris Meyers. This book is also available for free online.

If you want to dive a little deeper into the topics you'll be learning about, read chapters 2 & 3 of Python for Everybody.

• Click here to read Chapter 2 - Variables
• Click here to read Chapter 3 - Conditionals

Getting Started™

1. Log into SCI JupyterHub and start a terminal
2. Type in git clone https://github.com/pitt-sci-cmpinf0010/Python-Part1.git and hit the enter key
3. This should download a folder to your JupyterHub with the lab (it should be called Python-Part1)
4. Double click the new folder in the file explorer. You should see the lab contents.
5. Launch the Lab-Exercises.ipynb notebook. You can also launch Lab-Lesson.ipynb if you need a refresher on what the UTA went over in the skills lab.

If JupyterHub doesn't work for you

Use Binder!

Important: Binder does not always save your work. If you need to stop working on your lab for more than 30 minutes, you need to download your exercises notebook to you computer. Then, you can reupload it again later to continue your work.

Completing the Lab

You can modify Lab-Exercises.ipynb. Add your own cells, but don't delete the original problems - this helps us match up your answers to each exercise and check that you did all of the work. Don't forget to rename your lab -> <pitt username>-Lab-Exercises.ipynb where the is your username. For example, if my username is abc123, I would rename the lab to abc123-Lab-Exercises.ipynb.

Submitting your lab

We will use Canvas to let you upload your labs.

1. First, if you used the SCI JupyterHub, Virtual Lab, or Binder, you're going to have to download the notebook to your computer.

   • On JupyterHub, right click on your exercise notebook on your file browser on the left
   • Click Download and save it somewhere

2. Then, go to Canvas to upload your lab.

   • In Canvas, click on our class
   • Go to Assignments
   • Click on the Skills Lab assignment for this week
   • Click Submit Assignment in the top right
   • Choose your Notebook file you saved/created/downloaded earlier (will end in .ipynb)
   • Hit Submit!

If you are confused, here is a tutorial on how to submit an assignment on Canvas.

Note: you can re-upload your lab as many times as you want before the deadline.