Python Foundations: Your First Programs
Learn to code with Python — the world's most popular beginner language. No experience needed, no install needed: start coding in your browser today.
The best first programming language
Python is famous for being easy to read and write — and it's one of the most used languages in the world. It powers websites, data analysis, automation, artificial intelligence, science and games. Schools, universities and employers everywhere use it.
This course assumes no coding experience, and you don't need to install anything to start: you'll code in your web browser with Google Colab.
What you'll learn
- Variables, numbers, text and true/false values
- Making decisions with if, elif and else
- Lists, loops and list comprehensions
- Functions — reusable blocks of code
- Dictionaries — how programs store real data
- Reading and writing files, handling errors, and using modules
- Debugging, and using AI tools responsibly
What you'll build
- A workplace quiz game that asks questions, checks answers and keeps score
- A pay and budget tracker that saves your data to a file
What you need
- A laptop, desktop or Chromebook with a web browser
- A free Google account (for Google Colab) — or Python installed on your own computer
- The starter files attached to the course: a practice notebook, exercises, solutions and the projects
How it works
- 8 modules, 26 lessons, about 8 hours plus practice
- Every example is real, tested code — with the exact output you'll see
- Exercises with worked solutions, a quiz after each module, and a certificate
Where next?
This is the first course in the Avro Academy Python path. After it, choose Python for Data (clean, analyse and chart data) or Full-Stack Python (build web apps with Flask). Already done JavaScript for Beginners? You'll recognise many ideas — Python just writes them differently.
Free forever — like every self-paced course on Avro Academy: all lessons, quizzes, downloads and your certificate. Our promise
Course outline
Module 1: Getting started
What Python is, coding in Google Colab, your first program and reading tracebacks.
- What Python is — and why learn itFree preview10 min
- Coding in your browser with Google Colab15 min
- Your first program: print, comments and mathsFree preview15 min
- Reading error messages (tracebacks)12 min
- Module 1 quiz5 min
Module 2: Values and variables
Variables, numbers, strings and f-strings, input, booleans and converting types.
- Variables12 min
- Numbers and maths15 min
- Strings and f-strings15 min
- Input, booleans and converting types15 min
- Module 2 quiz5 min
Module 3: Making decisions
if, elif and else, indentation, and combining conditions with and, or and not.
- if, elif and else15 min
- and, or, not12 min
- Module 3 quiz5 min
Module 4: Lists and loops
Lists, for loops, range, while and list comprehensions.
- Lists15 min
- Loops: for, range and while15 min
- List comprehensions12 min
- Module 4 quiz5 min
Module 5: Functions
Writing functions, return values, defaults, scope — and the shift pay calculator.
- Writing functions18 min
- Scope and building with functions12 min
- Project: shift pay calculator18 min
- Module 5 quiz5 min
Module 6: Dictionaries and data
Dictionaries, lists of dictionaries, sorting real data, sets and tuples.
- Dictionaries15 min
- Lists of dictionaries: real data15 min
- Module 6 quiz5 min
Module 7: Files, errors and modules
Reading and writing text and CSV files, try/except, and the standard library.
- Reading and writing files15 min
- Handling errors with try and except12 min
- Modules: using code others have written12 min
- Module 7 quiz5 min
Module 8: Projects and next steps
A quiz game, a pay and budget tracker, debugging habits, AI tools and where to go next.
- Project: workplace quiz game25 min
- Project: pay and budget tracker25 min
- Debugging, AI tools and next steps15 min
- Module 8 and final quiz5 min