Workshops

Beginner Python Workshop

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Beginner Python Workshop

This workshop is aimed at beginners, and it uses the Thonny Python IDE.

Code Snippets

FractPy Example

from fractpy.models import NewtonFractal
model = NewtonFractal("x**10 - 4x**3 + x**2 - 6")
p = model.plot(-2, 2, -2, 2, (1000, 1000))
p.savefig('fractal.jpg', format='jpeg', dpi=150, bbox_inches='tight')
p.show()

OpenCV Example

import cv2
import sys

def main():
    # Load the pre-trained Haar Cascade classifier for face detection
    face_cascade = cv2.CascadeClassifier(cv2.data.haarcascades + 'haarcascade_frontalface_default.xml')

    # Check if the cascade loaded successfully
    if face_cascade.empty():
        print("Error: Could not load face cascade classifier")
        sys.exit(1)

    # Open the default camera (0)
    cap = cv2.VideoCapture(0)

    # Check if camera opened successfully
    if not cap.isOpened():
        print("Error: Could not open camera")
        sys.exit(1)

    print("Press 'q' to quit")

    while True:
        # Capture frame-by-frame
        ret, frame = cap.read()

        if not ret:
            print("Error: Could not read frame")
            break

        # Convert to grayscale for face detection
        gray = cv2.cvtColor(frame, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

        # Detect faces in the frame
        faces = face_cascade.detectMultiScale(
            gray,
            scaleFactor=1.1,
            minNeighbors=5,
            minSize=(30, 30)
        )

        # Draw rectangles around detected faces
        for (x, y, w, h) in faces:
            cv2.rectangle(frame, (x, y), (x+w, y+h), (0, 255, 0), 2)
            cv2.putText(frame, 'Face', (x, y-10), cv2.FONT_HERSHEY_SIMPLEX, 0.9, (0, 255, 0), 2)

        # Display the number of faces detected
        cv2.putText(frame, f'Faces: {len(faces)}', (10, 30), cv2.FONT_HERSHEY_SIMPLEX, 1, (255, 0, 0), 2)

        # Display the resulting frame
        cv2.imshow('Face Detection - Press Q to quit', frame)

        # Break the loop when 'q' is pressed
        if cv2.waitKey(1) & 0xFF == ord('q'):
            break

    # Release the camera and close windows
    cap.release()
    cv2.destroyAllWindows()

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

Beginner's Python Workshop with Thonny

Welcome to Python programming! This workshop will teach you the fundamentals of Python using the Thonny editor. Python is a powerful yet beginner-friendly programming language used for web development, data analysis, automation, artificial intelligence, and much more.

By the end of this workshop, you'll be able to write simple Python programs, understand basic programming concepts, and have the foundation to continue learning on your own.

Introduction: Setting Up Your Environment

What is Thonny?

Thonny is a beginner-friendly Python editor specifically designed for learning. Unlike complex development environments, Thonny keeps things simple while providing everything you need to write and run Python code.

Installing Thonny

Step 1: Download Thonny

  1. Go to https://thonny.org/
  2. Click the download button for your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux)
  3. The website automatically detects your system

Step 2: Install Thonny

  1. Run the downloaded installer
  2. Follow the installation wizard
  3. Accept the default settings (Thonny will install Python automatically if you don't have it)

[Screenshot: Thonny installation wizard]

Step 3: Launch Thonny

  1. Open Thonny from your applications menu or desktop shortcut
  2. You should see the Thonny interface

![](Screenshot from 2025-10-25 12-04-27.png)

Understanding the Thonny Interface

When you open Thonny, you'll see:

Your First Program

Let's make sure everything works!

  1. In the editor area (top), type:

    print("Hello, Python!")

  2. Click the green Run button (or press F5)

  3. You'll be asked to save the file - save it as hello.py

  4. Look at the Shell area - you should see:

    Hello, Python!

Congratulations! You've just written and run your first Python program!

1. Course Content

Getting Started with Thonny

To run your code: Press F5 or click the green Run button.

Tips:

Chapter 1: Your First Python Program

Printing Text

Let's start with displaying text on the screen:

print("Hello, World!")

Run this code. You should see Hello, World! appear in the Shell below.

Try printing your own message:

print("My name is Sam")
print("I am learning Python!")

Complete code for this section:

print("Hello, World!")
print("My name is Sam")
print("I am learning Python!")

Chapter 2: Variables and Numbers

Storing Values

Variables are like labeled boxes that store information:

age = 25

This creates a variable called age and stores the number 25 in it.

name = "Alex"

This stores text (called a "string") in a variable called name.

Basic Math

Python can do calculations:

result = 10 + 5
print(result)

This will display 15.

Try different operations:

addition = 10 + 5
subtraction = 20 - 7
multiplication = 6 * 4
division = 15 / 3

print(addition)
print(subtraction)
print(multiplication)
print(division)

Combining Text and Variables

name = "Jordan"
age = 30
print("My name is " + name)
print("I am " + str(age) + " years old")

Note: We use str() to convert numbers to text so we can combine them.

Complete code for this section:

age = 25
name = "Alex"
result = 10 + 5
print(result)

addition = 10 + 5
subtraction = 20 - 7
multiplication = 6 * 4
division = 15 / 3

print(addition)
print(subtraction)
print(multiplication)
print(division)

name = "Jordan"
age = 30
print("My name is " + name)
print("I am " + str(age) + " years old")

Chapter 3: Getting Input from Users

The input() Function

You can ask users to type something:

name = input("What is your name? ")
print("Hello, " + name + "!")

When you run this, Python will wait for you to type something and press Enter.

Working with Number Input

age_text = input("How old are you? ")
age = int(age_text)
next_year = age + 1
print("Next year you will be " + str(next_year))

We use int() to convert text input into a number we can do math with.

Complete code for this section:

name = input("What is your name? ")
print("Hello, " + name + "!")

age_text = input("How old are you? ")
age = int(age_text)
next_year = age + 1
print("Next year you will be " + str(next_year))

Chapter 4: Making Decisions with if Statements

Basic if Statement

Programs can make decisions:

temperature = 25

if temperature > 20:
    print("It's warm outside!")

Notice the colon : at the end and the indentation (spaces) before print. This is very important in Python!

if-else Statements

age = 16

if age >= 18:
    print("You are an adult")
else:
    print("You are a minor")

if-elif-else for Multiple Conditions

score = 75

if score >= 90:
    print("Grade: A")
elif score >= 80:
    print("Grade: B")
elif score >= 70:
    print("Grade: C")
else:
    print("Grade: F")

Complete code for this section:

temperature = 25

if temperature > 20:
    print("It's warm outside!")

age = 16

if age >= 18:
    print("You are an adult")
else:
    print("You are a minor")

score = 75

if score >= 90:
    print("Grade: A")
elif score >= 80:
    print("Grade: B")
elif score >= 70:
    print("Grade: C")
else:
    print("Grade: F")

Chapter 5: Repeating Actions with Loops

The while Loop

Repeats actions while a condition is true:

count = 1

while count <= 5:
    print("Count is: " + str(count))
    count = count + 1

print("Loop finished!")

This prints numbers 1 through 5.

The for Loop

Used to repeat a specific number of times:

for number in range(5):
    print("Number: " + str(number))

This prints 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 (5 numbers starting from 0).

To start from 1:

for number in range(1, 6):
    print("Number: " + str(number))

Complete code for this section:

count = 1

while count <= 5:
    print("Count is: " + str(count))
    count = count + 1

print("Loop finished!")

for number in range(5):
    print("Number: " + str(number))

for number in range(1, 6):
    print("Number: " + str(number))

Chapter 6: Lists - Storing Multiple Values

Creating Lists

Lists store multiple items in one variable:

fruits = ["apple", "banana", "orange"]
print(fruits)

Accessing List Items

fruits = ["apple", "banana", "orange"]

print(fruits[0])  # First item: apple
print(fruits[1])  # Second item: banana
print(fruits[2])  # Third item: orange

Python counts from 0!

Adding to Lists

fruits = ["apple", "banana"]
fruits.append("orange")
print(fruits)

Looping Through Lists

fruits = ["apple", "banana", "orange"]

for fruit in fruits:
    print("I like " + fruit)

Complete code for this section:

fruits = ["apple", "banana", "orange"]
print(fruits)

print(fruits[0])
print(fruits[1])
print(fruits[2])

fruits = ["apple", "banana"]
fruits.append("orange")
print(fruits)

fruits = ["apple", "banana", "orange"]

for fruit in fruits:
    print("I like " + fruit)

Chapter 7: Functions - Reusable Code

Creating Simple Functions

Functions are blocks of code you can reuse:

def greet():
    print("Hello!")
    print("Welcome to Python!")

greet()
greet()

This prints the greeting twice.

Functions with Parameters

def greet_person(name):
    print("Hello, " + name + "!")

greet_person("Alice")
greet_person("Bob")

Functions that Return Values

def add_numbers(a, b):
    result = a + b
    return result

answer = add_numbers(5, 3)
print("The sum is: " + str(answer))

Complete code for this section:

def greet():
    print("Hello!")
    print("Welcome to Python!")

greet()
greet()

def greet_person(name):
    print("Hello, " + name + "!")

greet_person("Alice")
greet_person("Bob")

def add_numbers(a, b):
    result = a + b
    return result

answer = add_numbers(5, 3)
print("The sum is: " + str(answer))

2. Demos

Demo 1: Installing and Using External Packages from PyPI

Python has thousands of packages available on PyPI (Python Package Index) that you can install to add extra features. Let's learn how to install a package and use it. On Windows and MacOS this is quite straightforward, however on Linux it is more complex and you might need assistance.

Installing a Package

We'll install the emoji package, which lets us easily work with emojis in our code.

Step 1: Open the Package Manager

  1. In Thonny, click Tools in the menu bar
  2. Select Manage packages...

Step 2: Search and Install

  1. In the search box, type: emoji
  2. Click Find package from PyPI
  3. Click the Install button
  4. Wait for installation to complete

Step 3: Close the Package Manager

Using the Installed Package

Now let's use the emoji package in our code:

import emoji

# Print text with emojis
print(emoji.emojize("Hello! :snake: Welcome to Python! :rocket:"))
print(emoji.emojize("Python is fun! :fire: :star: :thumbs_up:"))

# Get user input and add emojis
name = input("What's your name? ")
print(emoji.emojize("Nice to meet you, " + name + "! :waving_hand:"))

[Screenshot: Code running with emoji output displayed]

What's happening:

Try modifying:

Other Useful Packages from PyPI

Once you're comfortable, try exploring:

Demo 2: FractPy

We will use a basic fractal art generator package to generate fractals with code!

Install the package

Using the same steps as in Demo 1, install the fractpy package.

Copy the code

The code is available on my website: https://leofebeytech.com.au/services/workshops/

Then click "Beginner Python Workshop"

from fractpy.models import NewtonFractal
model = NewtonFractal("x**10 - 4x**3 + x**2 - 6")
p = model.plot(-2, 2, -2, 2, (1000, 1000))
p.savefig('fractal.jpg', format='jpeg', dpi=150, bbox_inches='tight')
p.show()

Click Run to see the preview

Try modifying

Demo 3: OpenCV Face Detection

Python can be used to do some very technically impressive things, like any other programming language. OpenCV is a computer vision library which can be used to detect things in images, such as faces, limbs, objects. It uses a variety of algorithms and methods in the background, in many cases very efficiently such that it can run on lower-end devices.

Install the package

As before, install the opencv-python package. It might take a minute or so to download and install.

Copy and past the code

This is a lot more code than before, but you can find it on the website as above, to then copy and past into Thonny.

import cv2
import sys

def main():
    # Load the pre-trained Haar Cascade classifier for face detection
    face_cascade = cv2.CascadeClassifier(cv2.data.haarcascades + 'haarcascade_frontalface_default.xml')

    # Check if the cascade loaded successfully
    if face_cascade.empty():
        print("Error: Could not load face cascade classifier")
        sys.exit(1)

    # Open the default camera (0)
    cap = cv2.VideoCapture(0)

    # Check if camera opened successfully
    if not cap.isOpened():
        print("Error: Could not open camera")
        sys.exit(1)

    print("Press 'q' to quit")

    while True:
        # Capture frame-by-frame
        ret, frame = cap.read()

        if not ret:
            print("Error: Could not read frame")
            break

        # Convert to grayscale for face detection
        gray = cv2.cvtColor(frame, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY)

        # Detect faces in the frame
        faces = face_cascade.detectMultiScale(
            gray,
            scaleFactor=1.1,
            minNeighbors=5,
            minSize=(30, 30)
        )

        # Draw rectangles around detected faces
        for (x, y, w, h) in faces:
            cv2.rectangle(frame, (x, y), (x+w, y+h), (0, 255, 0), 2)
            cv2.putText(frame, 'Face', (x, y-10), cv2.FONT_HERSHEY_SIMPLEX, 0.9, (0, 255, 0), 2)

        # Display the number of faces detected
        cv2.putText(frame, f'Faces: {len(faces)}', (10, 30), cv2.FONT_HERSHEY_SIMPLEX, 1, (255, 0, 0), 2)

        # Display the resulting frame
        cv2.imshow('Face Detection - Press Q to quit', frame)

        # Break the loop when 'q' is pressed
        if cv2.waitKey(1) & 0xFF == ord('q'):
            break

    # Release the camera and close windows
    cap.release()
    cv2.destroyAllWindows()

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

Press run and preview

As you can see, it should detect a face. It will likely be a bit glitchy, and detect many false positives. However it could still be used in practical applications, such as detecting if a person is in a room, or some kind of automatic video streaming script when a person is present.

Modify it

The code uses the Haar Cascade classifier model, which in theory you can modify the training data to detect things other than faces. This is of course very advanced for this workshop.

3. Take Home Exercises

Exercise 1: Personal Greeting Program

Create a program that:

Example output:

What is your name? Sarah
What is your favorite color? blue
Hello Sarah! I like blue too!

Exercise 2: Simple Calculator

Create a calculator that:

Bonus: Also show subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Exercise 3: Temperature Checker

Create a program that:

Exercise 4: Countdown Timer

Create a program that:

Example:

Enter a number: 5
5
4
3
2
1
Blast off!

Exercise 5: Shopping List

Create a program that:

Bonus: Print each item with a number (1. Bread, 2. Milk, etc.)

Exercise 6: Age Calculator Function

Create a function called calculate_age_in_months that:

4. Useful References

Python Basics

Official Python Documentation for Beginners

Thonny Resources

Quick Reference Code Snippets

Printing

print("text")
print(variable_name)

Variables

number_variable = 42
text_variable = "Hello"

User Input

text_input = input("Question? ")
number_input = int(input("Enter a number: "))

If Statements

if condition:
    # code here
elif other_condition:
    # code here
else:
    # code here

Loops

# While loop
while condition:
    # code here

# For loop
for item in range(10):
    # code here

# Loop through list
for item in my_list:
    # code here

Lists

my_list = [item1, item2, item3]
my_list.append(new_item)
my_list[0]  # First item

Functions

def function_name(parameter):
    # code here
    return value

Common Operators

+   # Addition
-   # Subtraction
*   # Multiplication
/   # Division
==  # Equal to
!=  # Not equal to
>   # Greater than
<   # Less than
>=  # Greater than or equal to
<=  # Less than or equal to

Learning Resources

Learning Resources

Interactive Practice

Video Tutorials

Books and Guides

Getting Help

When you get stuck:

  1. Read the error message carefully - Python tells you what's wrong!
  2. Check your indentation (spaces at the start of lines)
  3. Make sure you spelled everything correctly
  4. Use print() to check what your variables contain
  5. Search for your error message online
  6. Ask on Stack Overflow: https://stackoverflow.com/

Python Community

Python Project Ideas and Libraries

Once you're comfortable with the basics, explore these exciting areas of Python:

Game Development

Pygame - Create 2D games

Pygame Zero - Even simpler game development for beginners

Arcade - Modern alternative to Pygame

Mobile & Desktop Apps

Kivy - Build mobile apps and touch interfaces

Tkinter - Built-in GUI library (comes with Python)

PyQt or PySide - Professional desktop applications

Data Science & Visualization

Pandas - Data analysis and manipulation

Matplotlib - Create graphs and charts

Plotly - Interactive graphs and dashboards

NumPy - Mathematical computing

Machine Learning & AI

Scikit-learn - Beginner-friendly machine learning

TensorFlow - Deep learning framework

PyTorch - Another popular deep learning framework

OpenCV - Computer vision and image processing

Web Development

Flask - Lightweight web framework

Django - Full-featured web framework

FastAPI - Modern, fast web framework for APIs

Web Scraping & Automation

Beautiful Soup - Parse HTML and extract data from websites

Selenium - Automate web browsers

Requests - Simple HTTP requests

File & Document Processing

Pillow (PIL) - Image processing

PyPDF2 - Work with PDF files

openpyxl - Read and write Excel files

Hardware & Electronics

Raspberry Pi Projects - Physical computing

Arduino with Python - Control Arduino boards

Fun & Creative Projects

Turtle Graphics - Built-in drawing library

PyGame Music/Audio - Sound and music

Discord Bots - Create your own Discord bot

Telegram Bots - Automate Telegram

Project Path Suggestions

If you're interested in...

Games: Start with Pygame Zero → Pygame → Arcade

Mobile Apps: Start with Kivy basics → Build a simple app → Explore advanced features

Data & Analytics: Start with Pandas → Matplotlib → Scikit-learn

AI/ML: Start with NumPy → Pandas → Scikit-learn → TensorFlow/PyTorch

Web Development: Start with Flask → Build a simple site → Django (for larger projects)

Automation: Start with Requests → Beautiful Soup → Selenium

Images/Media: Start with Pillow → OpenCV (for advanced projects)

Tips for Success

  1. Practice regularly - Even 15 minutes a day helps!
  2. Type the code yourself - Don't just copy and paste
  3. Experiment - Try changing things to see what happens
  4. Make mistakes - Errors are how you learn
  5. Build small projects - Apply what you learn to real problems
  6. Be patient - Programming takes time to learn

Happy Coding! 🐍

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