Introduction to Python: Learn the Essentials Quickly and Easily - Class One

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The first session of the Python Introduction course, organized by IEEE PES and the IEEE Student Branch of Escuela Politécnica Nacional, took place on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025, at 8:30 PM in virtual format. This initial class focused on helping participants get started with Python by covering two key topics: setting up the programming environment and taking the first steps in writing Python code.

The session began with a complete walkthrough on how to install Python and configure Visual Studio Code (VS Code) as the main development environment. Participants learned how to create and save .py files, and how to run simple scripts from within VS Code. This setup phase ensured that all students had a functional workspace ready for programming.

Once the environment was ready, the class moved on to the basics of Python syntax and program structure. Students were introduced to the print() function to display messages on the screen, and learned how to use comments with the # symbol to document their code. The importance of proper indentation was emphasized, as it is essential for writing valid Python code. Example exercises included displaying welcome messages and performing basic arithmetic operations.

By the end of the session, participants were able to write and run basic Python scripts, understood the purpose of comments, and became familiar with navigating their development environment. This foundational knowledge provided a strong starting point for the upcoming sessions and highlighted Python's simplicity and readability, making it an excellent choice for beginner programmers.