Adapted for LIBR 559S
This lesson has been adapted (and truncated) from Library Carpentry’s Introduction to Python for Libararies course to focus specifically on the skills needed to create a basic API query using UBC Library’s Open Collections API.
This lesson is not an official Library Carpentry course. The original source can be found at: https://data-lessons.github.io/library-python-intro/
This lesson is an introduction to programming in Python for librarians with little or no previous programming experience. It will focus on the skills needed to create basic a basic metadata API query.
This lesson references the Spyder IDE, but can be taught using a regular Python interpreter as well. Please note that this lesson uses Python 3 rather than Python 2.
Prerequisites
Learners need to understand what files and directories are, what a working directory is, and how to start a Python interpreter from a terminal window.
Learners must install Anaconda before the class starts.
Please see the setup instructions for details.
Setup | Download files required for the lesson | |
09:45 | 1. Getting Started |
How do I use the Spyder IDE?
How can I run Python programs? |
09:55 | 2. Variables and Assignment | How can I store data in programs? |
10:10 | 3. Data Types and Type Conversion |
What kinds of data do programs store?
How can I convert one type to another? |
10:20 | 4. Built-in Functions and Help |
How can I use built-in functions?
How can I find out what they do? What kind of errors can occur in programs? |
10:35 | 5. Lists | How can I store multiple values? |
10:55 | 6. Dictionaries | How can I represent more complex datasets? |
11:10 | 7. Libraries |
How can I extend the capabilities of Python?
How can I use software that other people have written? How can I find out what that software does? |
11:20 | 8. Requests |
What is a HTTP request?
How can I use requests to get data? What does a request return? |
11:55 | 9. END? | Why here? Why now? |
11:55 | 10. For Loops | How can I make a program do many things? |
12:20 | 11. Writing Functions | How can I create my own functions? |
12:45 | 12. Variable Scope |
How do function calls actually work?
How can I determine where errors occurred? |
13:05 | 13. Conditionals | How can programs do different things for different data? |
13:30 | 14. Programming Style |
How can I make my programs more readable?
How do most programmers format their code? How can programs check their own operation? |
14:00 | 15. Wrap-Up |
What have we learned?
What else is out there and where do I find it? |
14:20 | Finish |
The actual schedule may vary slightly depending on the topics and exercises chosen by the instructor.