This is the sample code for the book "Begin to Code with Python" by Rob Miles. You can find the official Microsoft Press Store page for this book here

You should use the latest version of Python 3 which you can find here. There are versions of Python for many platforms. The book uses the Idle code editor which is included with the Python distribution. It doesn't matter which version of Python 3.n that you use, but you must not use any form of Python 2.n

The book also uses Visual Studio Code which you can find here.

The Snaps framework is used for some of the graphical exercises in the text. You don't need it for most of the exercises. The Snaps framework uses PyGame for graphics and user input. You can find out how to install PyGame in the book. Take a look at page 65. The site for PyGame is here.

There is an error on page 66. Rather than it saying

from snaps import * 

It should just say

import snaps

To make snaps work you just have to have the snaps program in the same folder as your program.

There have been some reports of the keyboard reading function in Snaps not working correctly when you run your Python program from within an IDE such as pyCharm or IDLE. If you find the keyboard to be unresponsive, try running the Python program directly in Python, rather than inside an IDE. Check on page 63 for details of how to run a program from the desktop.

There are some videos which take you through installing Python and Snaps. You can find them here.

You can find a set of notes that will help you use this book to revise for the Microsoft Certified Professional Exam 98-381, 'Introduction to Programming Using Python' here

You can buy the book here

You can find my blog at www.robmiles.com

If you have any questions about the links, the sample programs, or the book, you can get in touch with me via email on questions at begintocodewithpython.com. You can also tweet any questions to @begintocode or @robmiles