Python in one hour.

Python is the main language of AI. You don't need to install anything or own a powerful laptop: Google Colab runs Python free in your browser. Today you'll write real code, from zero.

Set up in 2 minutes

1. Open colab.research.google.com and sign in with your Google account.
2. Click New notebook.
3. Type code in a cell and press Shift + Enter to run it.

1. Printing and variables

print("Assalamu alaikum, Hyderabad!")

name = "Ayesha"
age = 19
marks = 87.5
print(name, "is", age, "years old and scored", marks)

A variable is a labelled box that stores a value. Text goes in quotes ("strings"), numbers don't.

2. Lists

cities = ["Hyderabad", "Bengaluru", "Chennai"]
print(cities[0])      # Hyderabad (counting starts at 0!)
cities.append("Pune")
print(len(cities))    # 4

3. Loops

prices = [120, 250, 90, 300]
total = 0
for p in prices:
    total = total + p
print("Total bill:", total)   # 760

Notice the indentation (spaces) inside the loop. Python uses indentation to know what's inside the loop.

4. Conditions

marks = 72
if marks >= 75:
    print("Distinction")
elif marks >= 60:
    print("First class")
else:
    print("Keep going!")

5. Functions

def gst_price(price, rate=18):
    return price + price * rate / 100

print(gst_price(1000))       # 1180.0
print(gst_price(1000, 5))    # 1050.0

A function is a reusable recipe: give it inputs, get an output.

6. A mini project: monthly expense tracker

expenses = {"rent": 8000, "food": 6000, "travel": 1500, "phone": 300}
total = sum(expenses.values())
print("Total:", total)
for item, amount in expenses.items():
    percent = amount / total * 100
    print(item, "=", round(percent, 1), "%")

That {} is a dictionary: pairs of keys and values, like a menu with item names and prices.

Your teacher says

Errors are normal. Read the last line of the error message, it usually tells you what's wrong (a missing quote, wrong spacing, a spelling mistake). You can also paste the error into an AI and ask "explain this error simply".