1.6 Exercise

Now that you’ve learned the basics of Python and have installed PyCharm, it is time to create and run your first Python program. This exercise will help reinforce your understanding of printing messages, storing user input in variables, and writing comments.

Exercise Overview

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Create a New Project in PyCharm
   • Open PyCharm and click on New Project (if you already have a project open, go to File > New Project).
   • In the New Project dialog, choose a location for your project.
   • Select the Python interpreter (the one you installed in previous steps).
   • Click Create.
2. Add a Python File
   • In the Project panel on the left, right-click your project folder.
   • Choose New > Python File.
   • Name the file my_first_program.py.
3. Write the Program
   • Open my_first_program.py (PyCharm will open it by default if you just created it).
   • Type (or copy/paste) the following steps (in your own words) to meet the requirements:

     # 1) Print a welcome message
     print("Welcome to My First Python Program!")
     
     # 2) Ask for the user's name
     name = input("What is your name? ")
     
     # 3) Ask for the user's age
     age = input("How old are you? ")
     
     # 4) Print a personalized greeting
     print("Hello,", name + "! You are", age, "years old. Have a great day!")
     

   • Make sure to include comments (#) to describe each section of the code.
4. Run Your Program in PyCharm
   • Look for the Run icon (▶) at the top right corner of PyCharm.
   • Select my_first_program if prompted.
   • Check the console (at the bottom) to see the output of your program.
5. Test It Out
   • Confirm the first line prints: “Welcome to My First Python Program!”.
   • Enter your name at the prompt and press Enter.
   • Enter your age at the prompt and press Enter.
   • Check if the personalized greeting correctly includes the name and age you entered.

Optional: Running from the Command Line

Although PyCharm is the recommended IDE, you can also run your script from the command line or terminal.

Additional Challenges

Use these bonus tasks to further develop your Python skills.

1. Format the Output with f-strings
   • Make your greeting more concise and readable:

     print(f"Hello, {name}! You are {age} years old. Have a great day!")
     

2. Convert Age to an Integer
   • Use int() to allow numerical operations:

     age = int(input("How old are you? "))
     print(f"In 5 years, you will be {age + 5} years old!")
     

3. Handle Empty Input
   • Check if the user enters a name:

     if name == "":
         print("You didn't enter a name!")
     else:
         print(f"Hello, {name}!")
     

Questions to Consider

1. What does input() return, and how is it different from print()?
2. How do variables help make your code clearer and more flexible?
3. Why should you include comments in your code?
4. What are some advantages of using PyCharm over the command line?
5. How can converting age to an integer change the possibilities for your program?

(Reflect on these questions before checking the solutions!)

Solutions (View After Attempting the Exercise)

Below is a sample solution for the main exercise requirements. Compare this with your code to identify any differences and see possible improvements.

# my_first_program.py

# 1) Print a welcome message
print("Welcome to My First Python Program!")

# 2) Ask for the user's name
name = input("What is your name? ")

# 3) Ask for the user's age
age = input("How old are you? ")

# 4) Print a personalized greeting
print("Hello,", name + "! You are", age, "years old. Have a great day!")

Answers to the Questions

1. input() vs. print()
   • input() prompts and collects data from the user (returns a string by default).
   • print() displays data to the console.
2. Benefits of Variables
   • Storing values in variables makes the code easier to read, reuse, and maintain.
3. Importance of Comments
   • Comments provide explanation, improve readability, and help collaborators (including your future self) understand the code logic.
4. Advantages of PyCharm
   • Automated features like syntax highlighting, error detection, and integrated debugging make coding more efficient than using just the command line.
5. Converting age to an Integer
   • Allows you to perform numerical calculations (e.g., age + 5) and validate numeric input.

Summary & Next Steps

Congratulations! You have successfully created and run your first Python program in PyCharm. You have also explored ways to enhance your code using formatting, integer conversion, and input validation. In the next chapter, you’ll dive deeper into Variables and Data Types, learning how to handle strings, numbers, booleans, and more advanced data operations.