MODULE 1.
2
Python Libraries
Learning Objectives
• You will be able to import modules and libraries into Python
• You will be able to research libraries and their contents with tools provided in
Python
Importing Libraries
Python Scripts
• Python files are text files, filled with Python code.
• Let’s say we want to use (execute) the code that is in a different Python
script.
• We can do this by using the import statement. When using import, the whole
file is executed, line-by-line.
– This means that the current script is paused until all lines of the other script have
finished executing.
– Only then, the current script continues to run.
• You can only import scripts that are in the same directory (folder) as your
script.
10 minutes exercise…
• kali@kali:~$ nano script_1.py
• kali@kali:~$ nano script_2.py
• kali@kali:~$ python3 script_1.py
Output
Using Imported Functions
• After importing, we can now use variables and functions (or properties and
methods) defined in our imported script!
• We do this just the same as we use methods on an object – by using a dot.
• Examples:
– math.cos()
– re.compile()
– sys.argv
10 min exercise….
• Add a simple user defined function to script_2.py from the previous exercise
• Call this function from script one
– script_2.your_function()
The as And from Keywords
• We can use the as keyword to give the imported script a nickname:
– import script_2 as s2
– s2.your_function()
• We can use the from keyword to import a specific object from our script.
– from script_2 import your_function
– from script import function_1, function_2
• Combining as and from
– from script import function_1 as f1, function_2 as f2
Note: once imported, you cannot import a script again.
from module_name import *
• Using* wildcard instead of specific function names imports all the functions
in the other script.
• Discussion: Why is this not recommended to do?
• In the remainder of the course, please do import the full libraries when doing
demo’s / presentations without renaming. Why?
Python Standard
Library
Azrieli School of Continuing
Studies of the Technion
The Python Standard Library
• A collection of modules that come bundled with the Python language.
• These modules provide a wide range of functionalities, including file I/O,
network programming, regular expressions, data handling, and many more.
1. os - provides a way to interact with the operating system
2. shutil - provides a higher-level interface for various file operations that are not
available with the built-in os module
3. sys - provides access to some variables used or maintained by the interpreter and to
functions that interact strongly with the interpreter
4. re - provides regular expression matching operations
5. time - time - provides time-related functions
6. datetime - provides classes for working with dates and times
7. socket - provides low-level network programming functionality
Azrieli School of Continuing
Studies of the Technion
Researching
Libraries
Azrieli School of Continuing
Studies of the Technion
Researching Libraries
• https://docs.python.org/3/library/index.html
• https://chat.openai.com/ (directed queries!)
• The REPL / interactive interpreter:
– dir() and vars() function in combination with pprint.pprint()
– the inspect module (getmembers())
– the type() command
– the built-in help() function
Presentations
• Research the library assigned to your group:
1. os - provides a way to interact with the operating system
2. shutil - provides a higher-level interface for various file operations that are not
available with the built-in os module
3. sys - provides access to some variables used or maintained by the interpreter and to
functions that interact strongly with the interpreter
4. re - provides regular expression matching operations
5. time - time - provides time-related functions
6. datetime - provides classes for working with dates and times
• Make a short presentation about the libraries methods and properties (max
5 slides – 10 minutes)
• Write a very simple script, demonstrating the possibilities of this library
Project 1.1 –
Turtle Library
Azrieli School of Continuing
Studies of the Technion
Learning Objectives
• You will be able to import modules and libraries into Python
• You will be able to research libraries and their contents with tools provided
in Python
Azrieli School of Continuing
Studies of the Technion
