Software Development: Understanding Python

949 enrolled on this course

4 weeks
4 hours per week
Digital certificate when eligible
Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

Discover the fundamentals of Python and improve your basic coding skills

If you want to start a career in software development, it’s important to build your programming skills.

This course focuses on one of the most popular programming languages – Python – which is widely used in scientific and numeric computing.

Get started building your software development skills

This course will introduce you to the world of software development, starting with the basics and help you gain an understanding of the theory and basic practices of using Python.

Explore how to use Python

You’ll be guided through using Python from the very beginning – install it onto your own computer, create a basic calculation, and look at the common use cases for the language. This will get you thinking about when and where you may use Python, and prepare for those scenarios.

You’ll also look at its dynamic semantic, and key aspects of the code syntax. By the end of this course, you should feel confident with a number of basic processes of Python and its real life applications.

What topics will you cover?

Introduction to Python
Python working environments, writing code, and basic troubleshooting
Variables, data types, and data structures
Conditionals, loops, and functions in Python

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

Explain common use cases for Python
Describe variables, data types, data structures, conditionals, loops and functions in Python
Create a basic calculation using Python

Who is the course for?

This course will provide you with the foundations to start your development career. It’s best suited to:

Career-starters or career-changers looking for an entry level role as a software developer.
Established technology professionals looking to better understand software development.
Entrepreneurs who need to understand how to translate an idea for a new product or service into a finished digital one.
Project, product, or general managers looking to gain experience of developer activities.

If you want to further your understanding of this subject, you may be interested in these courses, from the same provider, which share the same subject and overall learning outcomes:

What software or tools do you need?

During the course we’ll be using Python. We recommend you use a computer to access this course.

Who will you learn with?

Lewin Chan

Lewin delivers high quality, scalable software that behaves predictably and fails gracefully. He understands how to make effective tradeoffs between new features, system complexity and technical debt.

Who developed the course?

FutureLearn

FutureLearn is a leading social learning platform and has been providing high quality online courses for learners around the world over the last ten years.

In collaboration with

Endorsers and supporters

endorsed by


Ways to learn	Buy this course	Subscribe & save	Limited access
Choose the best way to learn for you!	$134/one-off payment	$39.99/month Automatically renews	Free
	Fulfill your current learning need	Develop skills to further your career	Sample the course materials
Access to this course	tick	tick	Access expires 17 May 2024
Access to 1,000+ courses	cross	tick	cross
Learn at your own pace	tick	tick	cross
Discuss your learning in comments	tick	tick	tick
Tests to check your learning	tick	tick	cross
Certificate when you're eligible	Printed and digital	Digital only	cross
	Continue & Upgrade
		Cancel for free anytime

Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$39.99/month

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

Access to this course
Access to 1,000+ courses
Learn at your own pace
Discuss your learning in comments
Tests to boost your learning
Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$134/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

Access to this course
Learn at your own pace
Discuss your learning in comments
Tests to boost your learning
Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Continue & Upgrade

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

Access expires 17 May 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn