Python IDLE (Integrated Development and Learning Environment)

Python IDLE (Integrated Development and Learning Environment)

Introduction:
Python IDLE (Integrated Development and Learning Environment) is an interactive development environment bundled with Python. It provides an easy-to-use interface for writing, executing, and debugging Python code. This documentation will cover the key features, usage, and coding examples of Python IDLE.

Installation:
Python IDLE comes pre-installed with the standard Python distribution. To check if it's installed, open the terminal or command prompt and type idle or python -m idlelib. If it's not installed, you can download the latest Python version from the official website and select the option to install IDLE during the installation process.

Key Features:

1. Interactive Shell: Python IDLE offers an interactive shell where you can execute Python commands and see immediate results.

2. Code Editor: It includes a built-in code editor with features like syntax highlighting, auto-indentation, and code completion.

3. Debugging Support: Python IDLE provides debugging capabilities, allowing you to set breakpoints and step through code for debugging purposes.

4. Multi-Window Interface: You can work with multiple code files simultaneously using its multi-window interface.

5. Python Help: Access Python's documentation and help directly from IDLE to get information about modules and functions.

Usage:

1. Opening Python IDLE: To open IDLE, search for "IDLE" in your operating system's applications or use the terminal/command prompt and type idle.

2. Interactive Mode: The interactive shell allows you to execute Python statements and see results immediately. Type your code in the shell and press Enter to execute.

3. Script Mode: To write and execute Python programs, open a new file by clicking "File" > "New File" or pressing Ctrl+N. Write your code in the editor and save the file with a .py extension.

4. Running a Script: To run a Python script, click "Run" > "Run Module" or press F5. The script's output will be displayed in the interactive shell or the output window.

Coding Example:

python
# This is a simple Python script to calculate the factorial of a number.

def factorial(n):
    if n == 0:
        return 1
    else:
        return n * factorial(n - 1)

num = int(input("Enter a number: "))
print("Factorial of", num, "is", factorial(num))

Explanation:

1. We define a recursive function factorial(n) to calculate the factorial of a number. If the input n is 0, the function returns 1. Otherwise, it multiplies n with the factorial of n-1.

2. We take user input using input() and convert it to an integer using int().

3. Finally, we call the factorial() function with the user input and print the result.

This concludes the documentation on Python IDLE, covering its features, usage, and a coding example. Happy coding!