How do I write and execute Python programs? What is Python IDLE?

Writing and executing Python programs is a fundamental skill for anyone learning to code. Python is a versatile and beginner-friendly programming language that is widely used in various fields such as web development, data science, artificial intelligence, and more. In this article, we will explore how to write and execute Python programs and discuss Python IDLE, which is an integrated development environment (IDE) for Python.

Writing Python Programs

Python programs are typically written in a text editor or an integrated development environment (IDE). Here’s a simple Python program that prints “Hello, World!”:

print("Hello, World!")

To write a Python program, follow these steps:

1. Open a Text Editor: You can use any text editor, such as Notepad, Sublime Text, Visual Studio Code, or PyCharm.
2. Write Your Code: Type your Python code in the text editor. Make sure to save the file with a .py extension. For example, hello.py.
3. Run Your Program: Open a terminal or command prompt, navigate to the directory where your Python file is saved, and type python filename.py (replace filename with the name of your file) to run the program.

Python IDLE

Python IDLE (Integrated Development and Learning Environment) is a simple IDE bundled with the Python programming language. It provides features like syntax highlighting, autocompletion, and an interactive Python shell. Here’s how you can use Python IDLE:

1. Open Python IDLE: You can open Python IDLE from the Start menu (Windows) or by typing idle in the terminal (Linux/Mac).
2. Write Your Code: In the Python IDLE editor, type your Python code. You can also open an existing Python file by clicking on File > Open.
3. Run Your Program: To run your program, click on Run > Run Module or press F5. Python IDLE will execute your code and display the output in the interactive shell.
4. Interactive Shell: Python IDLE also provides an interactive shell where you can type Python code and see the results immediately. This is useful for testing small code or experimenting with Python features.

Conclusion

Writing and executing Python programs is a straightforward process that requires a text editor or an IDE. Python IDLE is a convenient choice for beginners as it provides a simple interface with useful features.