Day 15: Mastering Python Fundamentals

Adrian Rubico

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Nov 12, 2024

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11:20 PM GMT+8

The objective of this post is to cover the essentials of Python programming, including quotes, comments, variables, print formatting, and data structures. As we learn more about Python, these basic concepts will help us to understand more complex concepts in the future.

Quotes and Comments

Comments in Python allow developers to write notes or explanations in their code, which are ignored during execution. Python also uses quotes for string literals.

  • Single-line Comments
    Use # for single-line comments, which help in documenting code.
# This is a single-line comment
print("Hello DevOps Engineer!")

  • Multi-line Comments
    Use triple quotes for multi-line comments, ideal for longer descriptions or notes.
"""
This is a multi-line comment.
It spans multiple lines.
"""
print("Hello DevOps Engineer!")

Variables

Variables in Python are used to store data values, and they can be created by assigning a value to a name. In addition to following best practices, variable names should also be descriptive (e.g., lowercase with underscores).

  • Rules for Naming Variables
    • Use letters, numbers, and underscores.
    • Variable names cannot start with a number.
    • Avoid Python keywords (e.g., print, for, if).
  • Example of Variable Assignments
name = "Adrian"
id = 1
is_devops_engineer = True

Print Format

Printing output in Python can be done in multiple ways, with f-strings and .format() being among the most popular methods for formatting strings.

  • f-Strings Method
    Embed variables directly within strings.
  • .format() Method
    Use the .format method for formatting strings.
# f-Strings Method
print(f"Hello, {name}!\n")

# .format Method
print("The id number is {} and the is_devops_engineer value is {}.".format(id,is_devops_engineer))

Data Structures

The data structures in Python are extremely helpful when it comes to organizing, managing, and storing data efficiently. Various data structure types provide different techniques for handling data, from simple numbers to complex collections, enabling developers to choose the right structure for specific tasks. It is fundamental to master these structures in Python so that your code will be cleaner, more efficient, and easier to read.

Data TypeDescriptionExample
IntegerWhole numbers, positive or negativeid = 01
FloatNumbers with decimalspi = 3.14
StringText data, enclosed in quoteslanguage = "Python"
BooleanRepresents True or False valuesis_active = True
ListOrdered, mutable collectiontech_stack = ["linux", "python", "docker"]
TupleOrdered, immutable collectioncoordinates = (10, 20)
DictionaryKey-value pairs, mutabletech_dict = { 1: "Linux", 2: "Docker", 3: "Ansible" }
SetUnordered, mutable collection of unique itemscloud_providers = {"aws", "azure", "gcp"}

Tasks

Differences Between List, Tuple, and Set

Compare the properties of these data structures to understand their unique characteristics.

# List
tech_stack = ["linux", "python", "docker"]
tech_stack.append("oracle")

# Tuple
coordinates = (10, 20)

# Set
cloud_providers = {"aws", "azure", "gcp"}
cloud_providers.add("oracle")

Comparison Table

PropertyListTupleSet
Syntax[ ]( ){ }
MutableYesNoYes
OrderedYesYesNo
Duplicates AllowedYesYesNo

Create a Dictionary and Print Values by Key

In this task, we will create a dictionary and access its values using keys. Each key to directly retrieve and print the associated value. This method is efficient for quickly accessing specific items in the dictionary. Here is an example below:

# Creating the dictionary
tech_dict = { 1: "Linux", 2: "Docker", 3: "Ansible" }

tech_dict_key = 3

print(f"The {tech_dict[tech_dict_key]} is one of essential in DevOps skills.")

Create a List of Azure Services

Create a list of Azure services and use some list methods to manage the data.

# List of Azure Services
azure_services = ["Virtual Machines", "Function Apps", "Logic Apps"]

# Add Item
azure_services.append("Cosmos DB")

# Sorts in-place
azure_services.sort()

# Reverses the elements of the list in-place
azure_services.reverse()

Conclusion

In this post, we discussed Python fundamentals such as variables, print formatting, and data structures. A solid understanding of these basic concepts is a must for anyone who intends to master Python for DevOps or other applications. Our next blog will explore Python's control flow, operators, and core structures.

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