Getting Started with Python — Google Colab

TechwithJulles
4 min readFeb 19, 2023

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Google Colab is an online platform that allows you to write and run Python code in a Jupyter notebook environment. It’s free to use and has a variety of features that make it an excellent choice for beginners and experts alike. In this article, we’ll go over the basics of getting started with Python using Google Colab.

Step 1: Creating a Google Colab account

Once you’re signed in to Google Colab, you can create a new notebook by clicking on the “New notebook” button. You’ll be prompted to give your notebook a name, and you can also choose whether to create a Python 2 or Python 3 notebook.

https://colab.research.google.com/

Step 2: Creating a new notebook

Once you’re signed in to Google Colab, you can create a new notebook by clicking on the “New notebook” button. You’ll be prompted to give your notebook a name, and you can also choose whether to create a Python 2 or Python 3 notebook.

Step 3: Writing your first Python code

Now that you’ve created your notebook, you’re ready to start writing some Python code. In Google Colab, you can write Python code directly in the notebook cells. To get started, type the following code into the first cell:

print("Hello, World!")

Then click on the “Run” button to run the code. You should see the output “Hello, world!” displayed below the cell.

Step 4: Adding comments and markdown

Comments are lines in your code that are ignored by Python and are used to explain what the code is doing. To add a comment in Python, simply start a line with the hash (#) symbol. For example:

# This is a comment
print("Hello, world!")

You can also add markdown to your notebook to provide additional explanations or notes. To add markdown, simply click on the “+” button at the top of a cell and select “Markdown” from the dropdown menu.

Step 5: Importing libraries and using functions

Python has a large number of libraries that you can use to perform a variety of tasks. To import a library in Python, use the import statement. For example, to import the numpy library, you would write:

import numpy as np

This imports the numpy library and gives it the alias np, which makes it easier to refer to in your code.

You can also use functions to perform specific tasks. For example, to calculate the square root of a number, you can use the sqrt() function from the math library:

import math

x = 16
sqrt_x = math.sqrt(x)
print(sqrt_x)

This code imports the math library, sets the variable x to 16, calculates the square root of x using the sqrt() function, and then prints the result.

Step 6: Saving and sharing your notebook

Once you’ve written your code, you can save your notebook by clicking on the “File” menu and selecting “Save” or by pressing the “Ctrl+S” or “Cmd+S” shortcut. You can also share your notebook with others by clicking on the “Share” button at the top of the screen and providing them with the link.

Conclusion

Google Colab is a fantastic tool for getting started with Python. It’s free, easy to use, and has a variety of features that make it a great choice for both beginners and experts. With the basics covered, you’re now ready to dive into the world of Python and with the basics covered, you’re now ready to dive into the world of Python and start exploring all the possibilities that this powerful programming language has to offer. Whether you’re interested in data analysis, machine learning, web development, or any other area of computer science, Python and Google Colab are great tools to have in your toolkit.

As you continue to work with Python and Google Colab, be sure to explore the many resources available online, such as tutorials, documentation, and forums. And don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things — that’s what programming is all about!

In conclusion, if you’re looking to get started with Python, I highly recommend giving Google Colab a try. It’s a powerful, flexible, and user-friendly platform that can help you take your first steps into the world of Python programming. So go ahead, create a new notebook, write some code, and see where this exciting journey takes you!

Part 1: Getting Started with Python: A Beginner’s Guide | by TechwithJulles | Feb, 2023 | Medium | Medium

Part 3: Getting Started with Python — Datatypes | by TechwithJulles | Feb, 2023 | Medium

Python for Beginners — Google Colab IDE — YouTube

Article Notebook— Google Drive

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TechwithJulles

I'm a software developer who enjoys teaching people about programming and the tech world. #TechWithJulles