First Code

Day 1 of 80

What You'll Build Today

By the end of this session you will have written and run three programs:

1. hello.py — proves Python is installed and working
2. intro.py — variables and f-strings, DVP context
3. formatter_v0.py — a hard-coded shot formatter, the seed of this week's project

Part 1: Install Python (10 min)

If Python is already installed and python --version works in your terminal, skip to Part 2.

1. Download Python
   Go to python.org/downloads and click "Download Python 3.x.x".
2. Run the installer
   Before clicking anything else: check "Add python.exe to PATH" at the bottom of the installer window. This single checkbox is the difference between it working and it not working.
   Check The Box

   The PATH checkbox is the #1 reason beginners hit "python is not recognized" errors. Check it. Then click Install Now.

3. Verify
   Open the terminal in Cursor (Ctrl + `) and type:
   Terminal

   $ python --version
   Python 3.12.4

   Any version number means you're good. If you see an error, close the terminal and reopen it — it needs to reload PATH.

Part 2: Your First Program — hello.py

In Cursor, create a new file called hello.py in your Python Training folder. Type this — don't paste:

print("Python is working.")
print("Marc is learning Python.")
print("DVP tools incoming.")

Part 3: Variables & F-Strings — intro.py

Create a new file: intro.py. A variable is a name that holds a value. You create one by writing name = value.

# Variables — names that hold values
your_name   = "Marc"
company     = "DynamicVibe Productions"
platform    = "Kling"
scene       = 1

# print() just shows the value
print(your_name)
print(platform)

# f-strings mix variables into text
# Put f before the opening quote, wrap variables in {curly braces}
print(f"{your_name} is building AI tools at {company}.")
print(f"Current platform: {platform} — Scene {scene}")

Part 4: The Formatter Seed — formatter_v0.py

This is the project you'll grow all week. Today's version is simple: no user input, just hard-coded data. But the output looks real.

# ── Project Info ─────────────────────
project = "____"
client  = "____"

# ── Shot Data ────────────────────────
scene1 = ____          # a number — no quotes
desc1  = "____"
plat1  = "____"

scene2 = ____
desc2  = "____"
plat2  = "____"

scene3 = ____
desc3  = "____"
plat3  = "____"

# ── Output ───────────────────────────
print(f"{'=' * ____}")
print(f"  {____.____()}")        # project name in ALL CAPS
print(f"  Client: {____}")
print(f"{'=' * ____}")
print()
print(f"  Scene {____}  [{____}]")
print(f"  {____}")
# ... repeat for scenes 2 and 3

# ── Project Info ─────────────────────
project = "Golf Course Commercial"
client  = "Highland Links"

# ── Shot Data ────────────────────────
scene1 = 1
desc1  = "Wide establishing shot, golf course at sunrise, drone pull-back"
plat1  = "Kling"

scene2 = 2
desc2  = "Slow motion swing at the 18th tee, shallow focus, film grain"
plat2  = "Runway"

scene3 = 3
desc3  = "Close-up of ball dropping into cup, sound of crowd reacting"
plat3  = "Veo"

# ── Output ───────────────────────────
print(f"{'=' * 44}")
print(f"  {project.upper()}")
print(f"  Client: {client}")
print(f"{'=' * 44}")
print()
print(f"  Scene {scene1}  [{plat1}]")
print(f"  {desc1}")
print()
print(f"  Scene {scene2}  [{plat2}]")
print(f"  {desc2}")
print()
print(f"  Scene {scene3}  [{plat3}]")
print(f"  {desc3}")
print()
print(f"{'=' * 44}")

evaluator   = "Marc"
model       = "Grok Aurora"
prompt      = "Wide shot of a mountain lake at sunrise, cinematic"
score       = 4
notes       = "Strong composition, slight motion blur on foreground rocks"

Did You Make It?

Optional: Video Supplement

If you want a second voice explaining what you built today, the first 30 minutes of Mosh's Python course covers the same ground. Not required — but useful if anything felt unclear.