Your First ‘Hello World!’: A Beginner’s Guide to Coding

Welcome, aspiring programmer! Every coding journey begins with “Hello World!” This simple program is your first step, confirming your setup and introducing you to the core workflow of writing and executing code.

This guide will walk you through setting up Python and running your very first program. No prior experience is needed – just your computer and a readiness to learn!

Guide Outline

1. Introduction: What is “Hello World!”?
2. Prerequisites: What You’ll Need
3. Step 1: Install Python
   • Checking for existing Python
   • Installation for Windows, macOS, Linux
   • Verifying your installation
4. Step 2: Choose Your Code Editor
5. Step 3: Write Your “Hello World!” Code
6. Step 4: Save Your Program
7. Step 5: Run Your Program
   • Opening your terminal/command prompt
   • Navigating to your file
   • Executing the script
8. Common Pitfalls & Troubleshooting
9. Conclusion: What’s Next?
10. Resources: Continue Your Learning

1. Introduction: What is “Hello World!”?

“Hello World!” is the classic first program in most languages. It simply outputs “Hello, World!” to your screen. Its importance lies in:

• First Success: Your first successful interaction with a programming language.
• Environment Check: Confirms your programming language (Python) is correctly installed.
• Fundamental Workflow: Introduces writing code, saving it, and running it.

It’s your foundational first step in coding.

2. Prerequisites: What You’ll Need

• A computer (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
• An internet connection for downloads.
• Basic familiarity with your operating system.

3. Step 1: Install Python

Python is a versatile and beginner-friendly language. We’ll use Python 3.

Checking for Existing Python Installation

Open your Terminal (macOS/Linux) or Command Prompt (Windows) by searching “terminal” or “cmd”. Type:

python3 --version

or

python --version

If you see Python 3.x.x, it’s installed. If not, or if it’s Python 2.x.x, proceed to install the latest Python 3 from python.org/downloads/.

Installation Instructions

For Windows:

1. Download the latest “Windows installer (64-bit)”.
2. Run the installer.
3. CRUCIAL: On the first screen, check “Add Python X.Y to PATH” before clicking “Install Now”.
4. Follow prompts to finish.

For macOS:

1. Download the latest “macOS 64-bit universal2 installer”.
2. Run the .pkg installer and follow the instructions.

For Linux (Ubuntu/Debian-based):

sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3 python3-pip

Verifying Your Installation

Open a NEW Terminal/Command Prompt window. Type:

python3 --version

or

python --version

You should see Python 3.x.x. If not, re-check installation, especially “Add to PATH” for Windows.

4. Step 2: Choose Your Code Editor

A good code editor makes coding much easier than a simple text editor.

Recommendation: Visual Studio Code (VS Code)

• Download: code.visualstudio.com
• Why: Free, open-source, popular, cross-platform, with great Python support. Install it like any other app.

Open VS Code once installed.

5. Step 3: Write Your “Hello World!” Code

Let’s write your first code!

1. In your editor, go to File > New File.

2. Type this exact line:

   print("Hello, World!")

   • print(): A Python function to display output to the console.
   • ("Hello, World!"): The text (a “string”) that print() will display. Quotation marks are essential.

6. Step 4: Save Your Program

Saving correctly is important.

1. Go to File > Save As... (or Ctrl+S / Cmd+S).
2. Choose a directory: Create a new folder, e.g., Documents/PythonProjects.
3. Name your file: Use hello_world.py.
   • The .py extension is vital for Python scripts.
   • Avoid spaces (use underscores _).
   • Keep names lowercase.
4. Click Save.

Your first Python script is now created!

7. Step 5: Run Your Program

Bring your code to life using your computer’s command line interface.

Opening Your Terminal/Command Prompt

• Windows: Search “cmd” or “Command Prompt”.
• macOS: Search “Terminal” in Spotlight (Cmd+Space) or Applications/Utilities.
• Linux: Typically named “Terminal” in your applications.

Navigating to Your File

Use cd (change directory) to go to where you saved hello_world.py.

Example (if saved in Documents/PythonProjects):

# For Windows
cd DocumentsPythonProjects

# For macOS/Linux
cd Documents/PythonProjects

• Tip: You can drag the folder containing your file into the terminal after cd (with a space) to auto-fill the path.
• Verify: Use dir (Windows) or ls (macOS/Linux) to list files and confirm hello_world.py is there.

Executing the Script

Once in the correct directory, run your script:

python hello_world.py

or

python3 hello_world.py

Press Enter.

Congratulations! You should see:

Hello, World!

You’ve successfully written and run your first computer program!

8. Common Pitfalls & Troubleshooting

Don’t get discouraged by errors; they’re learning opportunities!

• 'python' is not recognized...:
  • Cause: Python not installed correctly or not in system PATH.
  • Solution: Re-run installer (check “Add to PATH”). Open a new terminal. Try python3.
• ModuleNotFoundError or file not found:
  • Cause: Not in the correct directory.
  • Solution: Use cd to navigate to the exact folder of hello_world.py. Use ls or dir to confirm.
• SyntaxError: invalid syntax:
  • Cause: A typo in your code (missing parenthesis, misplaced quote).
  • Solution: Carefully compare your print("Hello, World!") line to the example. Python is strict about syntax.
• File saving issues:
  • Cause: Saved without .py extension, or text editor added .txt.
  • Solution: Rename to hello_world.py. In some editors, select “All Files” as “Save as type”.

9. Conclusion: What’s Next?

You’ve completed a major first step! You’ve learned to:

• Install Python.
• Use a code editor.
• Write, save, and execute a basic program.

This fundamental workflow is crucial. Next, explore more Python concepts like variables, loops, conditions, and functions.

10. Resources: Continue Your Learning

• The Official Python Tutorial: docs.python.org/3/tutorial/
• W3Schools Python Tutorial: www.w3schools.com/python/
• Real Python: realpython.com
• Codecademy: www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-python-3

Keep practicing and experimenting! Happy coding!