Hello, World! – Your First Step into Programming with Python and Bash

Introduction

Welcome to the exciting world of programming! If you are a beginner like myself, you’ve made a great choice by starting with Python and Bash. Programming can seem daunting at first, but starting with the basics can make it much easier. Today, we’ll dive into the simplest and most iconic program every programmer writes first: “Hello, World!”

Python: Hello, World!

Python is known for its simplicity and readability, making it a great language for beginners. Let’s write our first Python program to print “Hello, World!” to the screen.

Step-by-Step Guide

• Install Python: Make sure you have Python installed on your computer. You can download it from the official Python website.
• Open a Text Editor: You can use any text editor, such as Notepad, VSCode, or PyCharm.
• Write the Code:

print("Hello, World!")

• Save the File: Save the file with a .py extension, for example, hello_world.py.
• Run the Program:
• Open a terminal or command prompt.
• Navigate to the directory where your file is saved.
• Type python hello_world.py and press Enter.

Explanation

• print: This is a built-in Python function that outputs text to the screen.
• "Hello, World!": This is a string, a sequence of characters enclosed in quotes.

When you run the program, Python will execute the print function and display “Hello, World!” on the screen.

Bash: Hello, World!

Bash is a powerful scripting language for Unix-based systems, perfect for automating tasks. Let’s write a simple Bash script to print “Hello, World!”.

Step-by-Step Guide

• Open a Text Editor: Use any text editor like nano, vi, or VSCode.
• Write the Code:

#!/bin/bash
echo "Hello, World!"

• Save the File: Save the file with a .sh extension, for example, hello_world.sh.
• Make the Script Executable:
• Open a terminal.
• Navigate to the directory where your file is saved.
• Type chmod +x hello_world.sh and press Enter.
• Run the Program:
• In the terminal, type ./hello_world.sh and press Enter.

Explanation

• #!/bin/bash: This is called a shebang. It tells the system to use the Bash interpreter to run the script.
• echo: This command outputs the text that follows it.

When you run the script, Bash will execute the echo command and display “Hello, World!” on the screen.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve just written your first programs in Python and Bash. These “Hello, World!” examples might be simple, but they’re an important first step in your programming journey. As you continue to learn, you’ll build on these basics to create more complex and powerful programs.

Feel free to modify the scripts and experiment with them. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll become with programming. Happy coding!

If you need any help or have questions, leave a comment below. Keep exploring and enjoy your journey into the world of programming!