Computer Games

Starting with — Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python; Notes

Resource: Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python, 3rd Edition by Al Sweigart

Objective: Learn how to program by making simple video games.

Chapter 1 — Installing Python 

program: instructions in a language that a computer can understand

Python: one such language

Downloading and Installing Python 

Python interpreter software: a program that understands the instructions written in Python

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Starting IDLE

IDLE:
–Interactive DeveLopment Environment
-A development environment, like a word processing software for writing Python programs
-Starting IDLE is different on each OS
-On Windows, search for IDLE (Python GUI)

interactive shell:
-the window that appears when IDLE is run
-where Python instructions are entered (after the >>> prompt)
-the Python interpreter software will perform them

How to Use this Book

Each chapter begins with a sample run of a program, showing you what the program looks like when you run it.

Type the code for the program into IDLE’s file editor yourself to remember the programming better.

Play around with the code.

Finding Help Online

 

“When asking programming questions, do the following:

  • If you are typing out the programs in this book but getting an error, first check for typos with the online diff tool at http://invpy.com/diff. Copy and paste your code into the diff tool to find any differences from the book’s code in your program.
  • Explain what you are trying to do when you explain the error. This will let your helper know if you are on the wrong path entirely.
  • Copy and paste the entire error message and your code.
  • Search the Web to see whether someone else has already asked (and answered) your question.
  • Explain what you’ve already tried to do to solve your problem. This tells people you’ve already put in some work to try to figure things out on your own.
  • Be polite. Don’t demand help or pressure your helpers to respond quickly.”