Lecture notes

1. Introduction to Python
2. Variables
3. Inputs and Outputs
4. Decisions and Logical Operators
5. Functions
6. While Loop
7. Advanced Loop Techniques
8. Debugging

Additional lecture notes are stored using the IPython notebook format: an interactive computing environment. If you do not have access to Jupiter IPython notebooks software you can get a free Microsoft account and use Azure Python notebooks.

The notebooks for CST 1101 are stored here. Following this link, for each of the CST 1101 topics you will find an interactive Python notebook where you can execute / add / update Python cells on the fly (.ipynb files) and the same notebook with all the Python cells executed (.html files).

Below are the links to the chapters from the required Python reading. In addition to the reading materials listed below check the lecture notes provided by the instructor.

1. • 1. Introduction:
        • Required reading:
          • Section 1.1 (What is a program?)
          • Section 1.2 (Running Python).
          • Section 1.3 (The first program).
          • Section 1.4 (Arithmetic operators).
          • Section 1.6 (Formal and natural languages).
          • Section 1.7 (Debugging).
          • Glossary
        • (Strongly) Recommended reading:
          • 1.1. The Way of the Program.
          • 1.2. Algorithms
          • 1.3. The Python Programming Language.
          • 1.4. Executing Python in this Book
          • 1.5. More About Programs
          • 1.6. What is debugging?
          • 1.7. Syntax errors
          • 1.8. Runtime errors
          • 1.9. Semantic errors
          • 1.10. Experimental Debugging
          • 1.11. Formal and Natural Languages
          • 1.12. A Typical First Program
          • 1.13. Comments
     2. Variables:
        • Required reading:
          • Section 1.5  (Values types).
          • Chapter 2 (Variables, expressions and statements.
          • Section 5.1  (Floor division and modulus): pay attention to the distinction between integer and float numbers
          • Section 7.1  (Reassignment)
          • Section 7.2  (Updating variables)
          • Exercises
        • (Strongly) Recommended reading:
          • 2. Simple Python Data
          • Formatted output
     3. Input / Output
        • Required reading:
          • Keyboard input
     4. Decisions and Logical Operators
        • Boolean logic
        • Boolean operations: and, or, not
        • Conditional execution (if-else)
        • Required reading:
          • Section 5.2 (Boolean expressions).
          • Section 5.3 (Logical operators).
          • Section 5.4 (Conditional execution).
          • Section 5.5 (Alternative execution).
          • Section 5.6 (Chained conditionals).
          • Section 5.7 (Nested conditionals).
          • Glossary on Selection, Branching, etc.
          • Exercises (1, 2, 3)
        • (Strongly) Recommended reading:
          • Selection (Skip 7.8)
     5. Topic 5:
        • Functions
        • Why creating modules within a program?
        • Void functions VS fruitful functions
        • Passing input parameters and arguments
        • Function return value
        • Required reading:
          • Section 3.1 (Function calls).
          • Section 3.4 (Adding new functions).
          • Section 3.5 (Definitions and uses).
          • Section 3.6 (Flow of execution).
          • Section 3.7 (Parameters and arguments).
          • Section 3.8 (Variables and parameters are local).
          • Section 3.10 (Fruitful functions and void functions).
          • Section 3.11 (Why functions?).
          • Section 3.12 (Debugging).
          • Section 5.8 (Recursion).
          • Chapter 6 (Fruitful functions), except Section 6.5.
          • Section 4.9 (docstring documentation).
          • Section 3.13 (Glossary).
          • Flowgarithm CALL functions
        • (Strongly) Recommended reading:
          • Section 8.3 While
          • Section 8.7 Other uses of while
     6. While Loop
        • While loop
        • Condition controlled loop
        • Required reading:
          • Section 7.3  (The while statement)
          • Section 7.4  (break)
          • Section 7.6  (Algorithms)
          • Section 7.7  (Debugging)
          • Section 7.8  (Glossary)
          • Flowgarithm while loop
        • (Strongly) Recommended reading:
          • 8.3 The While loop
          • 8.7 Other uses of while