Introduction to Python

Welcome!

Welcome to the Introduction to Python course!

This course is designed for beginners and covers everything you need to start coding in Python.

We will begin with an introduction to Google Colab, an easy-to-use online coding environment that requires no installation. You will start by learning Python basics, including syntax, control flow, functions, and object-oriented programming. Then, you will gain hands-on experience with core data structures and control flow tools and dive into libraries like NumPy, Pandas, Scipy, and PyTorch.

The course culminates in a Capstone project where you will analyze a dataset of 10,000 hull geometries, applying your new skills to clean, manage, and extract insights from the data.

By the end of the course, you will have a solid foundation in Python and be ready to tackle more advanced projects.

We provide all course materials, including code and documentation, to support your learning journey.

From data analysis and simulation to automation and system integration, Python offers a comprehensive and efficient solution that outperforms other programming languages in versatility, ease of use, and speed of development.

Join us to start your Python programming adventure and unlock new possibilities!

Capstone Project

The course’s Capstone Project aims to apply Python programming concepts to analyze the MIT Dataset, focusing on hull geometry coefficients and the Froude number. You will learn to manage big data and compute various quantities of interest, applying stability theory and fluid dynamics.

Why Python?

Python is a powerful, efficient, reliable, and versatile programming language that consistently ranks as one of the most popular programming languages in the world. It has gained widespread use in many fields, such as Machine Learning.

Easy to learn and reliable: Unlike other programming languages such as Java, C, or C++, Python syntax closely resembles natural languages, making it easier to learn and read. That means we can spend less time coding and more time-solving complex engineering problems.

Versatile application: Python’s versatility is unmatched. It is used not only in software development but also extensively in data analysis, simulation, and numerical computation, which are crucial, for example, in performance analysis, structural integrity assessment, and environmental studies.

Rich ecosystem and community support: The Python ecosystem is vast. Libraries and frameworks exist for virtually every need. Libraries like Pandas for data manipulation, PyTorch for machine learning, and OpenCV for image processing can significantly enhance the analysis and interpretation of complex data, from material stress tests to hydrodynamic simulations. You won’t need to develop tools for exploring data or simulation since most of them are already available. Furthermore, Python’s large and active community means you’ll find extensive resources and tons of people ready to help you overcome technical challenges and stay updated on the latest developments.

Interdisciplinary integration: projects often require collaboration from various disciplines, including mechanics, electronics, aerodynamics, and environmental science. Python’s ability to seamlessly integrate with other languages and technologies means you can efficiently work within interdisciplinary teams, using Python’s capabilities to, for example, analyze data, automate tasks, and develop systems that are at the heart of engineering advancement.

Open source advantage: Python is open source, meaning it is freely available and continually improved by a global community of developers. This not only reduces software costs but also ensures that Python is at the cutting edge of technology, security, and performance. This means access to the latest tools and innovations without the constraint of licensing fees and proprietary software limitations.

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP): Python’s object-oriented programming capability is one of its main features and provides several advantages over other programming languages, especially regarding code organization, reusability, and scalability. While many modern programming languages support OOP, Python’s implementation is notable for its clarity and simplicity, making it accessible to beginners while still being powerful enough for advanced programming tasks.

What will you learn?

Completing this course will give you the knowledge and skills to understand and write Python code. More specifically, you will:

Understand Python programming:

• Introduction to Google Colab, including how to set it up and how to run Python code.
• Understand why Python is widely used in various fields and explore real-world applications of Python in Naval Engineering

Understand Python Syntax and Data Structures:

• Write and execute Python scripts.
• Understand Python’s syntax rules and conventions.
• Use lists, tuples, dictionaries, and sets effectively.
• Understand the properties and use cases of each data structure.

Develop Control Flow Skills:

• Implement conditional statements in Python.
• Use loops to iterate over data.

Create and Use Functions:

• Define and call functions to organize code.
• Understand the scope, parameters, and return values.

Handle Files and Data:

• Read from and write to files.

Understand Object-Oriented Programming:

• Define and instantiate classes to create objects.
• Understand class attributes and methods.

Create and Use Modules:

• Import and use Python’s built-in and external modules.
• Organize code into modules for better maintainability.
• Learn about popular Python modules such as NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, SciPy, SymPy, and PyTorch.

Apply All the Concepts to an Extensive Dataset:

• Work with extensive datasets.
• Compute quantities of interest systematically from big data.
• Analyze the data and draw conclusions.

Course Organization

The course is video-based and on-demand, allowing you to learn at your own pace, wherever and whenever you want.

It includes videos, quizzes, and downloadable documents, and provides access to the course’s virtual private classroom, where you can interact with the instructor and other students.

Upon completion of the course, you will receive a Course Certificate. To obtain the Course Certificate, you must complete all lessons, pass the quizzes, and have your Course Assignment approved.

– Resources:

• Video lessons.
• English captions.
• Written materials.
• Quizzes.
• Final Assignment.
• Virtual Private Classroom.
• Course Certificate.