Programming with Python programming language is quite easy. This is the main reason why Python is perfect for programming beginners.
Per default, Python ships with a free editor. It’s a pretty simple tool, but not very comfortable. So therefore, why not using Python’s Eclipse environment “Pydev” ?
Eclipse is a wide-spread used IDE (Integrated Developement Environment). Eclipse can be used for many programming languages (Java, XML, ….), as so for Python.
Our child (10 years) now want’s to learn a programming language. The decicion is Python and the editor is Eclipse because is’t clear, easy and powerful.
Python itself is perfect for programing beginners. Because it’s using weak datatypes. They don’t have to be exactly declared before (not as in Java).
For example you just assign a value to a variable and you’re done. Please see “Learn to Program Using Python: Variables and Identifiers” (http://www.developer.com/article.php/626321)
Example Python:
x=6 # create and populate x y=8 # create and populate y x+y # add x to y (building sum) and display the result
In Java Programing language this would look like this
static public int x = 6; static public int y = 8; System.out.print(x+y);
… so please forget this Java stuff….
For kids (programing beginners) its much easier not to pay attention to datatype declarations.
So, what’s to do:
First download Eclipse (www.eclipse.org), unzip it to any plage, directly start it (eclipse.exe).
Choose a Workspace (the place where your own Python programs will be stored).
Now you also need the Python Plugin for Eclipse, this is calles Pydev.
In Eclipse menu go to help – install software, add this update site:
more information : http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/opensource/library/os-ecant/ http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/opensource/library/os-ecant/
more information : http://www.tutorials.de/coders-talk/168370-so-verwendet-man-eclipse-als- python-ide.html http://www.tutorials.de/coders-talk/168370-so-verwendet-man-eclipse-als -python-ide.html> (german)
complete tutorial : http://www.vogella.de/articles/Python/article.html http://www.vogella.de/articles/Python/article.html (german)
Now, everything should be ready. Let’s try a Python program:
”’
Created on 13-DEC-2010
@author: byMe
”’
#!/usr/bin/python
# Filename: function1.py
# create function ‘sayHello’
# nothing happens until this function is being called!
def sayHello(vorname):
print(‘Hoi’, vorname) # block belonging to the function
# End of function
# —————————————
# MAIN PROGRAM , call the previously defined function
# —————————————
sayHello(‘Child’) # call the function
sayHello(‘Papa’) # call the function again
