Programming with Python

Instructor’s Guide

Legend

We are using a dataset with records on inflammation from patients following an arthritis treatment.

We make reference in the lesson that this data is somehow strange. It is strange because it is fabricated! The script used to generate the inflammation data is included as tools/gen_inflammation.py.

Overall

This lesson is written as an introduction to Python, but its real purpose is to introduce the single most important idea in programming: how to solve problems by building functions, each of which can fit in a programmer’s working memory. In order to teach that, we must teach people a little about the mechanics of manipulating data with lists and file I/O so that their functions can do things they actually care about. Our teaching order tries to show practical uses of every idea as soon as it is introduced; instructors should resist the temptation to explain the “other 90%” of the language as well.

The final example asks them to build a command-line tool that works with the Unix pipe-and-filter model. We do this because it is a useful skill and because it helps learners see that the software they use isn’t magical. Tools like grep might be more sophisticated than the programs our learners can write at this point in their careers, but it’s crucial they realize this is a difference of scale rather than kind.

Explain that we use Python because:

• It’s free.
• It has a lot of scientific libraries, and more are constantly being added.
• It has a large scientific user community.
• It’s easier for novices to learn than most of the mature alternatives. (Software Carpentry originally used Perl; when we switched, we found that we could cover as much material in two days in Python as we’d covered in three days in Perl, and that retention was higher.)

We do not include instructions on running the IPython Notebook in the tutorial because we want to focus on the language rather than the tools. Instructors should, however, walk learners through some basic operations:

• Launch from the command line with ipython notebook.
• Create a new notebook.
• Enter code or data in a cell and execute it.
• Explain the difference between In[#] and Out[#].

Watching the instructor grow programs step by step is as helpful to learners as anything to do with Python. Resist the urge to update a single cell repeatedly (which is what you’d probably do in real life). Instead, clone the previous cell and write the update in the new copy so that learners have a complete record of how the program grew. Once you’ve done this, you can say, “Now why don’t we just break things into small functions right from the start?”

The discussion of command-line scripts assumes that students understand standard I/O and building filters, which are covered in the lesson on the shell.

Frequently Argued Issues (FAI)

• import ... as ... syntax.

  This syntax is commonly used in the scientific Python community; it is explicitly recommended in documentation to import numpy as np and import matplotlib.pyplot as plt. Despite that, we have decided not to introduce aliasing imports in this novice lesson due to the additional cognitive load it puts on students, despite the typing that it saves. A good summary of arguments for and against can be found in PR #61.

  It is up to you as an individual instructor whether you want to introduce these aliases when you teach this lesson, but we encourage you to please read those arguments thoroughly before deciding one way or the other.

Analyzing Patient Data

Repeating Actions with Loops

Solutions to exercises:

for i in range(1,4):
   print(i)
1
2
3

result = 1
for i in range(0, 3):
   result = result * 5
print(result)

125

After discussing these challenges could be a good time to introduce the b*=2 syntax.

Storing Multiple Values in Lists

Solutions to exercises: >## Turn a string into a list {.challenge} > > Use a for-loop to convert the string “hello” into a list of letters: > > _~ {.output} > my_list = [] > for char in “hello”: > my_list.append(char) > print(my_list) > _~ > _~ {.output} > [“h”, “e”, “l”, “l”, “o”] > _~

Analyzing Data from Multiple Files

Making Choices

Solutions to exercises: > ## How many paths? {.challenge} > > Which of the following would be printed if you were to run this code? Why did you pick this answer? > > _~ {.python} > if 4 > 5: > print(‘A’) > elif 4 == 5: > print(‘B’) > elif 4 < 5: > print(‘C’) > _~ > > C gets printed, because the first two conditions, 4 > 5 and 4 == 5 are not true, but 4 < 5 is true. >

if '':
    print('empty string is true')
if 'word':
    print('word is true')
if []:
    print('empty list is true')
if [1, 2, 3]:
    print('non-empty list is true')
if 0:
    print('zero is true')
if 1:
    print('one is true')

First line prints nothing: an empty string is false
Second line prints 'word is true': a non-empty string is true
Third line prints nothing: an empty list is false
Fourth line prints 'non-empty list is true': a non-empty list is true
Fifth line prints nothing: 0 is false
Sixth line prints 'one is true': 1 is true

print(abs(a - b) < 0.1 * abs(b))

left = 'L'
right = 'R'

temp = left
left = right
right = temp

The code swaps the contents of the variables right and left.

Creating Functions

Solutions to exercises: > ## Combining strings {.challenge} > > Write a function called fence that takes two parameters called original and wrapper > and returns a new string that has the wrapper character at the beginning and end of the original. > > _~ {.output} > def fence(original, wrapper): > return wrapper + original + wrapper > _~

def outer(input_string):
    return input_string[0] + input_string[-1]

def rescale(input_array):
    L = input_array.min()
    H = input_array.max()
    output_array = (input_array - L) / (H - L)
    return output_array

f = 0
k = 0

def f2k(f):
  k = ((f-32)*(5.0/9.0)) + 273.15
  return k

print(f2k(8))
print(f2k(41))
print(f2k(32))

print(k)

259.81666666666666
287.15
273.15
0
k is 0 because the `k` inside the function `f2k` doesn't know about the `k` defined outside the function.

Errors and Exceptions

Solutions to exercises: > ## Reading Error Messages {.challenge} > > Read the traceback below, and identify the following pieces of information about it: > > 1. How many levels does the traceback have? > 2. What is the file name where the error occurred? > 3. What is the function name where the error occurred? > 4. On which line number in this function did the error occurr? > 5. What is the type of error? > 6. What is the error message? > > _~ {.python} > import errors_02 > errors_02.print_friday_message() > _~ > _~ {.error} > ————————————————————————— > KeyError Traceback (most recent call last) > in () > 1 import errors_02 > —-> 2 errors_02.print_friday_message() > > /Users/jhamrick/project/swc/novice/python/errors_02.py in print_friday_message() > 13 > 14 def print_friday_message(): > —> 15 print_message(“Friday”) > > /Users/jhamrick/project/swc/novice/python/errors_02.py in print_message(day) > 9 “sunday”: “Aw, the weekend is almost over.” > 10 } > —> 11 print(messages[day]) > 12 > 13 > > KeyError: ‘Friday’ > _~ > > _~ {.output} > 1. 3 levels > 2. errors_02.py > 3. print_message > 4. 11 > 5. KeyError > 6. There isn’t really a message; you’re supposed to infer that Friday is not a key in messages. > _~

def another_function
    print("Syntax errors are annoying.")
     print("But at least python tells us about them!")
    print("So they are usually not too hard to fix.")

`SyntaxError` for missing `:()` at end of first line, `IndentationError` for mismatch between second and third lines.
def another_function():
    print("Syntax errors are annoying.")
    print("But at least python tells us about them!")
    print("So they are usually not too hard to fix.")

for number in range(10):
    # use a if the number is a multiple of 3, otherwise use b
    if (Number % 3) == 0:
        message = message + a
    else:
        message = message + "b"
print(message)

3 `NameError`s for `number` being misspelled, for `message` not defined, and for `a` not being in quotes.
message = ""
for number in range(10):
    # use a if the number is a multiple of 3, otherwise use b
    if (Number % 3) == 0:
        message = message + "a"
    else:
        message = message + "b"
print(message)

abbabbabba

seasons = ['Spring', 'Summer', 'Fall', 'Winter']
print('My favorite season is ', seasons[4])

IndexError; the last entry is `seasons[3]`, so `seasons[4]` doesn't make sense.
seasons = ['Spring', 'Summer', 'Fall', 'Winter']
print('My favorite season is ', seasons[-1])

Defensive Programming

Solutions to exercises:

def running(values):
    assert len(values) > 0
    result = [values[0]]
    for v in values[1:]:
        assert result[-1] >= 0
        result.append(result[-1] + v)
        assert result[-1] >= result[0]
    return result

The first assertion checks that the input sequence `values` is not empty.
  An empty sequence such as `[]` will make it fail.
The second assertion checks that the first value in the list is positive.
  Input such as `[-1,0,2,3]` will make it fail.
The third assertion checks that the running total always increases.
  Input such as `[0,1,3,-5,4]` will make it fail.

import numpy
def range_overlap(ranges):
   '''Return common overlap among a set of [low, high] ranges.'''
   if len(ranges) == 1: # only one entry, so return it
       return ranges[0]
   lowest = -numpy.inf # lowest possible number
   highest = numpy.inf # highest possible number
   for (low, high) in ranges:
       lowest = max(lowest, low)
       highest = min(highest, high)
   if lowest >= highest: # no overlap
       return None
   else:
       return (lowest, highest)

Debugging

Command-Line Programs

Solutions to exercises:

$ python arith.py add 1 2

3

$ python arith.py subtract 3 4

-1

# this is code/arith.py
import sys

def main():
   assert len(sys.argv) == 4, 'Need exactly 3 arguments'

   operator = sys.argv[1]
   assert operator in ['add', 'subtract', 'multiply', 'divide'], \
          'Operator is not one of add, subtract, multiply, or divide: bailing out'
   try:
       operand1, operand2 = float(sys.argv[2]), float(sys.argv[3])
   except ValueError:
       print('cannot convert input to a number: bailing out')
       return

   do_arithmetic(operand1, operator, operand2)

def do_arithmetic(operand1, operator, operand2):

   if operator == 'add':
       value = operand1 + operand2
   elif operator == 'subtract':
       value = operand1 - operand2
   elif operator == 'multiply':
       value = operand1 * operand2
   elif operator == 'divide':
       value = operand1 / operand2
   print(value)

main()

$ python my_ls.py py

left.py
right.py
zero.py

# this is code/my_ls.py
import sys
import glob

def main():
   '''prints names of all files with sys.argv as suffix'''
   assert len(sys.argv) >= 2, 'Argument list cannot be empty'
   suffix = sys.argv[1] # NB: behaviour is not as you'd expect if sys.argv[1] is *
   glob_input = '*.' + suffix # construct the input
   glob_output = glob.glob(glob_input) # call the glob function
   for item in glob_output: # print the output
       print(item)
   return

main()

# this is code/readings-07.py
import sys
import numpy

def main():
   script = sys.argv[0]
   action = sys.argv[1]
   filenames = sys.argv[2:]
   assert action in ['-n', '-m', '-x'], \
          'Action is not one of -n, -m, or -x: ' + action
   if len(filenames) == 0:
       process(sys.stdin, action)
   else:
       for f in filenames:
           process(f, action)

def process(filename, action):
   data = numpy.loadtxt(filename, delimiter=',')

   if action == '-n':
       values = data.min(axis=1)
   elif action == '-m':
       values = data.mean(axis=1)
   elif action == '-x':
       values = data.max(axis=1)

   for m in values:
       print(m)

main()

# this is code/readings-08.py
import sys
import numpy

def main():
   script = sys.argv[0]
   if len(sys.argv) == 1: # no arguments, so print help message
       print('Usage: python readings-08.py action filenames\n \
              action must be one of --min --mean --max\n \
              if filenames is blank, input is taken from stdin;\n \
              otherwise, each filename in the list of arguments is processed in turn')
       return

   action = sys.argv[1]
   filenames = sys.argv[2:]
   assert action in ['--min', '--mean', '--max'], \
          'Action is not one of --min, --mean, or --max: ' + action
   if len(filenames) == 0:
       process(sys.stdin, action)
   else:
       for f in filenames:
           process(f, action)

def process(filename, action):
   data = numpy.loadtxt(filename, delimiter=',')

   if action == '--min':
       values = data.min(axis=1)
   elif action == '--mean':
       values = data.mean(axis=1)
   elif action == '--max':
       values = data.max(axis=1)

   for m in values:
       print(m)

main()

# this is code/readings-09.py
import sys
import numpy

def main():
   script = sys.argv[0]
   action = sys.argv[1]
   if action not in ['--min', '--mean', '--max']: # if no action given
       action = '--mean'    # set a default action, that being mean
       filenames = sys.argv[1:] # start the filenames one place earlier in the argv list
   else:
       filenames = sys.argv[2:]

   if len(filenames) == 0:
       process(sys.stdin, action)
   else:
       for f in filenames:
           process(f, action)

def process(filename, action):
   data = numpy.loadtxt(filename, delimiter=',')

   if action == '--min':
       values = data.min(axis=1)
   elif action == '--mean':
       values = data.mean(axis=1)
   elif action == '--max':
       values = data.max(axis=1)

   for m in values:
       print(m)

main()

# this is code/check.py
import sys
import numpy

def main():
   script = sys.argv[0]
   filenames = sys.argv[1:]
   if len(filenames) <=1: #nothing to check
       print('Only 1 file specified on input')
   else:
       nrow0, ncol0 = row_col_count(filenames[0])
       print('First file {0}: {1} rows and {2} columns'.format(filenames[0], nrow0, ncol0))
       for f in filenames[1:]:
           nrow, ncol = row_col_count(f)
           if nrow != nrow0 or ncol != ncol0:
               print('File {0} does not check: {1} rows and {2} columns'.format(f, nrow, ncol))
           else:
               print('File {0} checks'.format(f))
       return

def row_col_count(filename):
   try:
       nrow, ncol = numpy.loadtxt(filename, delimiter=',').shape
   except ValueError: #get this if file doesn't have same number of rows and columns, or if it has non-numeric content
       nrow, ncol = (0, 0)
   return nrow, ncol

main()

# this is code/line-count.py
import sys

def main():
   '''print each input filename and the number of lines in it,
      and print the sum of the number of lines'''
   filenames = sys.argv[1:]
   sum_nlines = 0 #initialize counting variable

   if len(filenames) == 0: # no filenames, just stdin
       sum_nlines = count_file_like(sys.stdin)
       print('stdin: {0}'.format(sum_nlines))
   else:
       for f in filenames:
           n = count_file(f)
           print('{0} {1}'.format(f, n))
           sum_nlines += n
       print('total: {0}'.format(sum_nlines))

def count_file(filename):
   '''count the number of lines in a file'''
   f = open(filename,'r')
   nlines = len(f.readlines())
   f.close()
   return(nlines)

def count_file_like(file_like):
   '''count the number of lines in a file-like object (eg stdin)'''
   n = 0
   for line in file_like:
       n = n+1
   return n

main()