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Working with Python scripts

Learning objectives

  • To be able to create a Python script
  • To be able to run a Python script
For teachers

Teaching goals are:

  • Learners have created a Python script
  • Learners have run a Python script

Other goals are:

  • Verify that learners indeed have learned how to create a file
  • Verify that learners indeed have learned how to use a text editor

Lesson plan:

  • 5 mins: prior knowledge
  • 5 mins: presentation
  • 15 mins: challenge
  • 5 mins: feedback

Overview

To run code, we use text files that are run as if each line was typed in into the Python interpreter. Such text files that run (interpreted) code are called 'scripts'.

In this session, we create and run some simple Python scripts.

flowchart TD
    python[[Python]]

    %% Give a white background to all nodes, instead of a transparent one
    classDef node fill:#fff,color:#000,stroke:#000

    subgraph sub_programming_language[Python as a language]
      interpreted_language[Interpreted language]
      programming_language[Programming language]
      scripting_language[Scripting language]
      interpreter[Interpreter]
      scripts[Scripts]
      text_files[Text files]
    end
    style sub_programming_language fill:#ccf,color:#000,stroke:#fcc


    subgraph sub_uppmax[UPPMAX]
      uppmax[UPPMAX]
      uppmax_modules[UPPMAX modules]
      uppmax_clusters[UPPMAX clusters]
      text_editors[Text editors]
      %%x_forwarding[X-forwarding]
      %%remote_desktop[Remote desktop]
    end
    style sub_uppmax fill:#fcc,color:#000,stroke:#fcc

    python --> |is a| programming_language
    python --> |is a| interpreted_language
    python --> |is a| scripting_language

    programming_language --> |uses| text_files
    interpreted_language --> |has a| interpreter
    scripting_language --> |is a|interpreted_language
    scripting_language --> |runs| scripts
    scripts --> |are| text_files
    %% scripts --> |can use| command_line_arguments

    uppmax --> |has| uppmax_clusters
    uppmax_clusters --> |have| uppmax_modules
    uppmax_clusters --> |have| text_editors
    %%uppmax_clusters --> |allow| x_forwarding
    %%uppmax_clusters --> |has| remote_desktop
    %% uppmax_modules --> |allow the use of| python_packages
    uppmax_modules --> |allow the use of| interpreter

    text_editors --> |work on|text_files
    %%x_forwarding --> |allows|graphics
    %%remote_desktop --> |allows|graphics


    %% variables ~~~ uppmax

Exercises

See the exercise procedure here.

Exercise 1: create a Python script

Learning objectives

  • to use a text editor in the terminal
  • to create, edit and save a file in the terminal
  • to create a trivial Python script to work on

On Rackham, create a file called hello_world.py, using a text editor or Linux commands. The UPPMAX page on text editors is here.

Use the text editor 'GNU nano'

Copy-paste the following content into the script:

print('Hello, world!')

Save the script. Close the text editor. Verify that the script has its contents saved.

Exercise 2: run a Python script

Learning objectives

  • to be able to run a Python script.

Read the UPPMAX page on running a Python script, here

Run the Python script you just created.

Exercise 3: run another Python script

Learning objectives

  • rehearse creating a Python script
  • to observe that an expression result is not shown on-screen by default

Of the Python book How to Think Like a Computer Scientist: Learning with Python 3, go back to section 1.12 and do exercise 6.