Python is a general-purpose programming language for writing programs ranging from quick, simple tasks to applications and websites. A Python interpreter is the program that runs code written in Python. The language and the interpreter share the same name, but they do different jobs. section 3.1
To get started, set up a Python environment and write a small program. You can then practice making decisions, repeating tasks, and breaking larger tasks into smaller ones. Errors are part of that practice: try a change, run the program, and work out what happened. section 1.2 section 1.3
Give a value a name
In `score = 9`, `9` is an object and `score` is a name you can use to refer to it later. Naming a value saves you from repeatedly describing or recalculating it. Try choosing a name that makes its purpose clear. section 4.0
Names need a little care when they refer to objects you can change, such as lists and dictionaries. Assigning an existing object to another variable creates an alias, not a separate copy. Change that mutable object through one name, and the change is visible through its other names. If you need an independent object, make a copy. section 28.3
Keep practicing with short exercises before moving to larger programs. Packages written by other programmers can later help you make programs that respond to mouse or keyboard input, or read, analyze, and write structured data. section 1.3
