Knowledge / Python Basics for Vibe Coders
10 stories in Python Basics for Vibe Coders.
Python Basics for Vibe Coders, Part 1: Where Do You Run the Code AI Gives You?
Run Python for the first time: terminal vs. shell (>>>) vs. .py file, how to tell AI's commands from code, and 3 common beginner mistakes.
Python Basics for Vibe Coders, Part 2: Variables and What = Really Means
Python variables are name tags, and = doesn't mean "equals." Numbers, strings, booleans, f-strings, why "20" + "1" is 201, and reading AI code.
Python Basics for Vibe Coders, Part 3: if, elif, else and the Order Bug
Python if/elif/else runs only the first true branch. Why condition order turns 95 into a B, = vs. ==, and testing AI conditionals with boundary values.
Python Basics for Vibe Coders, Part 4: for and while Loops and the range Trap
Learn Python for loops, range, and while. Avoid the off-by-one range mistake, stop endless while loops with Ctrl+C, and review AI-written loops.
Python Basics for Vibe Coders, Part 5: Lists and Indexes That Start at 0
Create, read, add to, and loop over Python lists. Why indexes start at 0, using -1 for the last item, when IndexError happens, and vibe coding tips.
Python Basics for Vibe Coders, Part 6: Dictionaries, Looking Up Values by Key, and KeyError
Look up Python dictionary values by key, add or update them, and loop with items(). Handle KeyError with get() and fix AI code for JSON responses.
Python Basics for Vibe Coders, Part 7: Functions, and Why print Is Not return
Python functions: def, parameters and defaults, print vs return, why no return means None, and how to read and test AI code one function at a time.
Python Basics for Vibe Coders, Part 8: Read Error Messages from the Bottom Up
Read Python error messages (tracebacks) from the last line up: 6 common errors, friendlier 3.15 messages, try/except, and how to report errors to AI.
Python Basics for Vibe Coders, Part 9: Saving Files and encoding="utf-8"
Save and read files in Python using with open, why files close automatically, the UTF-8 default in Python 3.15 (PEP 686), and why to still set encoding.
Python Basics for Vibe Coders, Part 10: Build a To-Do List with Everything You've Learned
Build a Python to-do list from variables, lists, dictionaries, functions, loops, and conditionals, read it line by line, plus a 9-point AI code checklist.