= Programming in Python (for quantitative biologists) =


== Learning objectives and expected learning outcomes ==

 The course introduces students to imperative programming by referring to the Python language. 

 The course is divided in two parts: 
 1. Python and its object-oriented features;
 1. Python libraries that can be useful in scientific computation and data analysis, in particular [https://numpy.org/ NumPy] and [https://pandas.pydata.org/ pandas].

Students will acquire the ability to write and tune a program that automatizes simple computational tasks; they will be able to understand how a small piece of Python code works, to find the reasons of a malfunction and to correct it appropriately. Moreover, students will be able to use the [https://numpy.org/ NumPy] and [https://pandas.pydata.org/ pandas] library to analyze tabular data.

== A.A. 2024/25 ==

The course will take place in the first semester. Currently, we expect to lecture on-premises, lectures will NOT be streamed. You can find some videos from last year course in the 2020/21 web page linked below. 

[https://orari.unimi.it/PortaleStudenti/index.php?view=easycourse&form-type=attivita&include=attivita&anno=2024&attivita=ECF5B-5_1&visualizzazione_orario=cal&periodo_didattico=&_lang=en&list=0&week_grid_type=-1&ar_codes_=&ar_select_=&col_cells=0&empty_box=0&only_grid=0&highlighted_date=0&all_events=0&faculty_group=0 Official Timetable]

The course will have a total of 40 hours of lessons and 16 hours of lab practice. The exact schedule will be announced during the lessons (the first lesson is on October 1st). 


=== Syllabus ===

 * The Python programming language. 
 * Native data types. 
 * Functions, selections and iterations. 
 * Basic data structures: lists, tuples, dictionaries. 
 * Object-oriented encapsulation. 
 * Iterators and generators. 
 * Files. 
 * Numpy multi-dimensional arrays and matrices. 
 * Data manipulation and analysis with pandas.

Any Python3 book can be used to support the learning of the general part, for example [https://link-springer-com.pros.lib.unimi.it/book/10.1007%2F978-3-030-20290-3 J. Hunt "A Beginners Guide to Python 3 Programming"] (The electronic version is free for Unimi students). [https://numpy.org/ NumPy] and [https://pandas.pydata.org/ pandas] have excellent online documentation.

The examination is based on laboratory exercises. A final mark (on a 30 point scale) is given, by taking into account the knowledge of the subject and tools, and the clarity of the solutions.


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== 2024/25 ==

=== 1. October 3, 10:30 Room 309 ===

== [=#old Previous years] ==

 * [wiki:WikiStart@231 A.A. 2023/24] 
 * [wiki:WikiStart@181 A.A. 2022/23] 
 * [wiki:WikiStart@132 A.A. 2021/22]
 * [wiki:WikiStart@79 A.A. 2020/21]