Welcome to the Course

Hi, I’m Erik. I made this course for people who want to learn programming but are not sure where to begin. I will not assume that you have programmed before.

You do not need to install Python for this course. Python runs here on Python Land, inside your browser. You can start writing code right away.

How this course works

The lessons in this course are meant to be followed in order. Each one introduces a manageable piece of programming, then gives you a chance to use it. Some lessons are mostly explanation. Others ask you to edit code, solve an exercise, or build a small project.

There is no prize for rushing. Run the examples, change them, and see what happens. If something does not make sense the first time, that is normal. Programming becomes clearer through use.

You can also use Python Land on a small screen, such as your phone. A short break can be a chance to reread a lesson or run an example. Return to earlier lessons when you want more practice with an idea.

Run your first program

The box below contains a small Python program. Press Run and look for the output underneath it.

The line inside the box is code. The text Python shows after running it is the output.

Now change Hello from Python Land! to a message of your own and press Run again. You cannot break anything here. If you want the original example back, press Reset code.

For now, you can think of print(...) as an instruction that asks Python to show something on the screen. We will take it apart properly later.

Meet Monty

You may have noticed Monty nearby. Monty is Python Land’s learning guide. You can ask questions about the current lesson, request another explanation, get hints without revealing the full answer, and ask for help understanding an error.

Monty is included free throughout this first chapter when you are signed in. Open Monty and ask:

What is the difference between code and output?

Try asking a follow-up question if part of the answer is unclear. Monty knows which lesson you are working on, so you do not need to explain the whole situation again.

Later in the course, the full Monty experience is included with Guided. For now, use it as much as you need while you learn how Python Land works.

Mistakes are welcome here

At some point, Python will show you an error. Every programmer sees them. An error means Python could not carry out an instruction as written. It does not mean you have failed, and it cannot damage Python Land.

We will deliberately cause and repair an error later in this chapter. Monty can translate the message into plain English, while leaving the actual fix for you to make.

Once you have run the example, changed its message, and met Monty, press Next to continue. When you are signed in, this reading lesson marks itself complete automatically.