Alex Kenan - Python for Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Python is a general-purpose programming language that can be used to write code for both small and large projects. Companies like Dropbox, Instagram, Instacart, and reddit, among others, use Python in some or all of their production code. The language has three major selling points: it is free, it has good code readability, and it has a batteries-included philosophy, meaning that it can be quickly downloaded and used. The majority of the time, Python code reads very similarly or almost exactly like normal English. That helps turn your code from pseudocode, where you get the general idea of what you want your program to do, to executable code. Python is also highly regarded because of its wide-ranging standard library. A library, also called a module, is a folder of pre-written code that you can use and re-use. Using a Python module is like calling your favorite car guy/gal to help diagnose a problem with your car. You get to benefit from his/her expertise without having to do the hard work of researching the problem, ordering parts, diagnosing the problem, etc. For a Python example, you can use the built-in operating system module os to help you move a file from your Documents folder to your Desktop folder. All you have to do is tell Python which file to move, and to where, and it takes care of the rest. The standard library has modules to help manage files on your computer, calculate and manage dates and times, time how long it takes your code to run, help test your code, and many more.