Create an introductory notebook about syntax

[edoardob90]

We know that people who are meeting Python for the first time struggle a lot with syntax. The idea is to have a introductory notebook only about syntax (an overview).

[yakutovicha]

Thanks, @despadam, for taking this issue over.
Here’s how I would outline the “Introduction to Python” notebook.

1. References

Add some links from #244 so readers can see what other material is available.

2. “Hello world!” in Python

Start with the simplest possible program:

print("Hello world!")

Use this to explain:

• what an expression is,
• what a string is.

(You could also mention how the interpreter executes code line-by-line, to ground readers in Python’s interactive nature.)

3. Basic datatypes and operations

Give a short interactive taste of numbers and strings:

1 + 1
'Hello' + 'world!'
type(1)

Emphasise that type attribution is implicit and context-dependent.
(Optionally: show float, bool, or list for variety.)

4. Conditional execution

Introduce a simple if-else example to show how control flow can deviate:

if 5 > 3:
    print("True branch")
else:
    print("False branch")

5. Loops

Demonstrate while and for loops and note that they allow repeated execution:

for i in range(3):
    print(i)

(You could tie this to a small practical example, e.g. summing a list.)

6. Functions

When code should be reused, introduce functions:

def greet(name):
    return f"Hello, {name}!"

Explain the idea of inputs, outputs, and code modularity.

7. Object-oriented programming

When functions are attached to objects, gives a short taste of OOP:

class Greeter:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name
    def greet(self):
        return f"Hello, {self.name}!"

Keep it lightweight—just enough to show how data and behaviour live together.

Side remarks

1. Each time a new topic is introduced, end with something like
   “For more information, see [link]”, where the link points to the relevant detailed notebook.
2. Consider adding a coherent storyline—for instance, reusing the small geometry examples from the “Modules and packages” section.
   (A consistent mini-project helps learners see how ideas build on each other.)
3. Optionally, you might end with a small “Putting it all together” cell. E.g., compute the area of a shape using a function and a class to reinforce all concepts in one place.