• It is versitile
• It is useful
• It has things that you may never think of using

There is so much that you can do with python.  And one of the great things is that if there is some program idea that you have, chances are that someone has done a fair amount of the heavy lifting for you already.  In my experience, programming in python is a finding someones solution and then tayloring it to your desires.

The very first thing that you will need is to download python.

It may sound wierd, but it is actually ok to have multiple version of python on your machine at one time.  However you do have to keep track of them.  I recommend both Regular Python 3.x and/or Anaconda Python.

Whichever version you choose, your safest bet is to follow the prompts for the recommended install.

If you have installed the regular vanilla python from python.org you should be able to open up a command terminal and type: python

C:\path\to\wherever>python

And see...

Python 3.8.2 (tags/v3.8.2:7b3ab59, Feb 25 2020, 22:45:29) [MSC v.1916 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>

or something close to that.  If you have install python correctly and your computer has added python to its set of PATHS for programs then you have just opened an interactive python session!  Go ahead and make your first perfuntory "hello world" program by typing

Python 3.8.2 (tags/v3.8.2:7b3ab59, Feb 25 2020, 22:45:29) [MSC v.1916 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>print("Hello World!")

When you hit "enter" you should see

Python 3.8.2 (tags/v3.8.2:7b3ab59, Feb 25 2020, 22:45:29) [MSC v.1916 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> print("Hello World!")
Hello World!
>>>

Now as far as programs go, this is the lamest one of all.  But for some reason everyone starts here.  I guess it is important to understand that python is installed and responding as you intend for it to do.  If you have made it this far then you are ready to move on to the next tutorial!