Python 2.5.2 (r252:60911, Feb 22 2008, 07:57:53) 
[GCC 4.0.1 (Apple Computer, Inc. build 5363)]
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> # suppose we have a bunch of measurements
>>> # we could use one variable for each one, like this
>>> measurement1 = 45.27
>>> measurement2 = 45.26
>>> measurement3 = 45.24
>>> # But what if you have, say, 20 measurements?  You don't want to have to use 20 variables
>>> # So, we put them in one list
>>> measurements = [45.27,45.26,45.24]
>>> measurements
[45.270000000000003, 45.259999999999998, 45.240000000000002]
>>> #we can access the individual list elements, just as we access individual characters in strings
>>> measurements[0]
45.270000000000003
>>> measurements[1]
45.259999999999998
>>> measurements[2]
45.240000000000002
>>> measurements[3] # what's going to happen when I enter this?  An error! there are only 3 elements in the list
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 1, in <string>
IndexError: list index out of range
>>> # lists can contain any type of object, not just ints.  for example, strings
>>> instructors = ["jen","mary", "juan"]
>>> instructors
['jen', 'mary', 'juan']
>>> # a list can contain different types of things, say a student record
>>> # name, student number, grade average, address
>>> student = ["John_Smith",3321456, 97.5, "132 Main St, Pittsburgh, PA 15260"]
>>> student
['John_Smith', 3321456, 97.5, '132 Main St, Pittsburgh, PA 15260']
>>> student[0]
'John_Smith'
>>> student[1]
3321456
>>> student[2]
97.5
>>> student[3]
'132 Main St, Pittsburgh, PA 15260'
>>> len(student) # student has 4 elements
4
>>> # list functions
>>> len(mesaurements)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 1, in <string>
NameError: name 'mesaurements' is not defined
>>> len(measurements)
3
>>> max(measurements)
45.270000000000003
>>> min(measurements)
45.240000000000002
>>> sum(measurements)
135.77000000000001
>>> # sum adds up all the elements in the list.  It works only if all the list elements are numbers
>>> # The following will cause an error, since it doesn't make sense to sum strings and numbers
>>> sum(student)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 1, in <string>
TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'int' and 'str'
>>> # now, for list methods
>>> #first, let's see everything defined for lists
>>> dir(lists)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 1, in <string>
NameError: name 'lists' is not defined
>>> dir(list)
['__add__', '__class__', '__contains__', '__delattr__', '__delitem__', '__delslice__', '__doc__', '__eq__', '__ge__', '__getattribute__', '__getitem__', '__getslice__', '__gt__', '__hash__', '__iadd__', '__imul__', '__init__', '__iter__', '__le__', '__len__', '__lt__', '__mul__', '__ne__', '__new__', '__reduce__', '__reduce_ex__', '__repr__', '__reversed__', '__rmul__', '__setattr__', '__setitem__', '__setslice__', '__str__', 'append', 'count', 'extend', 'index', 'insert', 'pop', 'remove', 'reverse', 'sort']
>>> # here are some really useful ones
>>> help(list.append)
Help on method_descriptor:

append(...)
    L.append(object) -- append object to end

>>> help(list.count)
Help on method_descriptor:

count(...)
    L.count(value) -> integer -- return number of occurrences of value

>>> help(list.insert)
Help on method_descriptor:

insert(...)
    L.insert(index, object) -- insert object before index

>>> help(list.find)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 1, in <string>
AttributeError: type object 'list' has no attribute 'find'
>>> # Let's see some in action.  You should also play with these yourself in the shell
>>> measurements
[45.270000000000003, 45.259999999999998, 45.240000000000002]
>>> measurements.append(40.32)
>>> measurements
[45.270000000000003, 45.259999999999998, 45.240000000000002, 40.32]
>>> #following sayd to insert a 33 at position 2 in the list
>>> measurements.insert(2,33)
>>> measurements
[45.270000000000003, 45.259999999999998, 33, 45.240000000000002, 40.32]
>>> # as you can see, Python is smart - It made room for 33 to be inserted so now it is at position 2
>>> #for loops and lists:
>>> for datum in measurements:
... 	print datum
... 
45.27
45.26
33
45.24
40.32
>>> # For the rest of the class, we developed the code in first_list_code.py, tracing some on the board
>>> # and tracing some in Wing.