Introduction

Welcome to your first step into the world of programming with Python! In this chapter, we'll explore the foundational concepts that will set you on your path to becoming a proficient programmer. We'll cover variables, naming rules, the print function, comments, and basic math operations. By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to write simple Python scripts and understand how these concepts tie into analyzing music data.

Understanding Variables and Naming Rules

Variables are like containers that store data values. In Python, you can create a variable simply by assigning a value to a name. This name should follow certain rules:

• It must start with a letter or an underscore (_).
• It can contain letters, numbers, and underscores.
• It is case-sensitive (e.g., myVariable and myvariable are different).

Example:

# Correct variable names
artist_name = "The Beatles"
album_count = 13

# Incorrect variable name (starts with a number)
# 1st_album = "Please Please Me"

Using the print Function

The print function is used to display information to the user. It's a simple yet powerful tool for debugging and interacting with your code.

Example:

# Printing a message
print("Welcome to the world of music data analysis!")

# Printing a variable
print(artist_name)

Adding Comments

Comments are lines in your code that are not executed. They are used to explain what the code does, making it easier to understand for yourself and others.

Example:

# This is a single-line comment
print("This line will be executed")  # This comment is inline

"""
This is a multi-line comment
It can span multiple lines
"""

Performing Math Operations

Python can perform various math operations, which are essential for data analysis. Here are some basic operations:

• Addition (+)
• Subtraction (-)
• Multiplication (*)
• Division (/)
• Floor Division (//)
• Modulus (%)

Example: