As the Chinese proverb says,
a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Today's a big day, you're taking your first step
in your journey to learn how to write scripts in Python.
It's going to be a little challenging at times,
but really it's not that scary.
We'll go slow and give you everything you need to
fully grasp each concept before we move along.
In the next few videos,
you'll discover the fundamental concepts
of computer programming.
You'll learn what a programming language
is, what scripting is,
what languages are out there other than Python,
and how this all relates to IT.
We'll also have you coding before you know it with
small coding exercises we've cooked
up to give you hands-on practice with Python.
This will include writing your very first Python script.
But always keep in mind,
if at any point along the way you feel
lost or confused, don't panic.
You can watch the videos as many times as
you need to let the concept sink in,
plus you can ask questions in the discussion forums,
which is one of the best ways to find
extra information and connect with other learners.
When I was asked to participate in this program,
it made me think about when I first started to code.
If I could give that younger version
of myself a piece of advice,
this is what I would tell her,
it never works the first time.
Seriously, as a newbie,
I expected it all to work like magic.
I thought that following the rules and getting it
right the first time would prove my value as a coder,
but that's just not true,
not even the best of the best.
If you expect to write perfect code
on the first shot you're going to be disappointed.
You hear that younger self?
Try not to feel overwhelmed by the details.
Connecting the dots only comes with experience,
so the best way to learn is to just jump in.
The truth is everyone learns at their own pace.
If you already know some of these concepts,
feel free to skip ahead to
the parts that interests you the most.
If you're starting from scratch,
take as long as you need for each concept.
The assessments will be right there
waiting for you when you're done,
and if at any point you
start doubting yourself, remember,
even the most advanced programmers
started thinking, Python?
What's Python? Well, we're
about to learn all about it, so let's dive in.
Next up, we'll be doing a rundown of what programming is.