Python is a general-purpose programming language that is easy to learn and widely used.  It is one of the primary programming languages for data science, and when combined with its modules such as NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, and Pandas, it can be a very powerful tool for numerical computing.

The first part of this hands-on series will be a whirlwind introduction to all the basic Python concepts and features you need to get started learning.  By the end, you should be able to read and write basic Python modules and programs, and you should have enough Python exposure to continue learning more on your own.