Python Programming for Absolute Beginners

Course overview

This course teaches core programming concepts using Python, starting from installation and basic computer requirements and progressing to a functional beginner application (an expense tracker). Each lesson explains a concept with a short, focused example, then gives hands-on exercises so learners immediately apply what they learned. The course emphasizes readable code, small iterative projects, and debugging practice to prepare learners for software development, automation, and data-related roles.

Who this course is for

Adult learners and early-career professionals with little or no prior programming experience who want a practical foundation in Python for software development, automation, or data-related tasks.

What you will learn

• Install Python and a code editor and run Python scripts from an editor or terminal
• Write, read, and format text output and accept user input in Python
• Use variables and choose appropriate data types (integers, floats, strings, booleans)
• Apply conditional logic and boolean expressions to direct program flow
• Create and control loops (for, while) to perform repeated actions
• Work with lists and dictionaries to store, access and modify collections of data
• Write reusable functions with parameters and return values
• Handle common runtime errors and use basic debugging techniques
• Read from and write to text files for simple data persistence
• Build, test and run a small, functional expense-tracker application that combines learned concepts

Prerequisites

• A computer (Windows, macOS, or Linux) with administrative rights to install software
• Basic familiarity with using a keyboard, files and folders, and installing applications
• Willingness to practice by typing code and completing exercises; no prior programming experience required

Level: Beginner