why python there are many high-level languages the language you will be learning is python python is one of the easiest languages to learn and usewhile at the same time being very powerfulit is one of the most used languages by highly productive professional programmers also python is free languageif you have your own computeryou can download it from the internet obtaining python for your computer even if you have python on your own computeryou may well not have the latest version if you think you already have current python set to gothen try starting idlestarting idle (page if idle startssee if the version stated near the top of its window matches the latest version of pythonthen fineotherwiseif you are using windows or macsee the appendices (page for instructions for individual operating systems linux an older version of python is generally installedand even if current version +is installedidle is not always installed look for package to installsomething like 'idle-python(the name in the ubuntu distributionphilosophy and implementation of the hands-on python tutorials although python is high-level languageit is not english or some other natural human language the python translator does not understand "add the numbers two and threepython is formal language with its own specific rules and formatswhich these tutorials will introduce graduallyat pace intended for beginner these tutorials are also appropriate for beginners because they gradually introduce fundamental logical programming skills learning these skills will allow you to much more easily program in other languages besides python some of the skills you will learn are breaking down problems into manageable parts building up creative solutions making sure the solutions are clear for humans making sure the solutions also work correctly on the computer guiding principals for the hands-on python tutorialsthe best way to learn is by active participation information is principally introduced in small quantitieswhere your active participationexperiencing pythonis assumed in many place you will only be able to see what python does by doing it yourself (in hands-on fashionthe tutorial will often not show among the most common and important words in the tutorial are "try this:other requests are for more creative responses sometimes there are hintswhich end up as hyperlinks in the web page versionand footnote references in the pdf version both formats should encourage you to think actively about your response first before looking up the hint the tutorials also provide labeled exercisesfor further practicewithout immediate answers provided the exercises are labeled at three levels no label immediate reinforcement of basic ideas preferably do on your first pass important and more substantial be sure you can end up doing these allow time to do them*most creative information is introduced in an order that gives you what you need as soon as possible the information is presented in context complexity and intricacy that is not immediately needed is delayed until laterwhen you are more experienced beginning with python