Python Turtle Tutorial

in

No, not the kind of dancing that involves actual turtles (although that would be pretty cool). We’re talking about Python Turtle Tutorial the fun and easy way to get started with programming in Python.

To kick things off: what is Python Turtle? It’s a built-in module in Python that allows you to control a virtual turtle on your screen using simple commands. You can make it move forward, backward, turn left or right, and even draw shapes! And the best part? No actual turtles are harmed during this process (unless you accidentally close the window).

So let’s get started with our Python Turtle Tutorial. First, open up your favorite text editor or IDE (Integrated Development Environment) and create a new file. We’ll call it `turtle_dance.py`.

Next, add this line at the top of your file:

# Import the turtle module
import turtle

# Create a turtle object and assign it to the variable "t"
t = turtle.Turtle()

# Set the speed of the turtle to 0 (fastest)
t.speed(0)

# Set the background color to black
turtle.bgcolor("black")

# Set the pen color to white
t.pencolor("white")

# Set the pen size to 3
t.pensize(3)

# Create a loop that repeats 36 times
for i in range(36):
    # Move the turtle forward by 100 units
    t.forward(100)
    # Turn the turtle to the right by 90 degrees
    t.right(90)
    # Move the turtle forward by 50 units
    t.forward(50)
    # Turn the turtle to the right by 90 degrees
    t.right(90)
    # Move the turtle forward by 100 units
    t.forward(100)
    # Turn the turtle to the left by 10 degrees
    t.left(10)

# Exit the turtle program when the user clicks on the screen
turtle.exitonclick()

This imports the Python Turtle module into our program so we can use its functions and commands.

Now let’s write some code to make our virtual turtle dance! Here’s a simple example that moves the turtle forward 100 pixels, turns left by 90 degrees, and repeats this pattern three times:

# Import the Python Turtle module into our program so we can use its functions and commands
import turtle

# Create a new Turtle object and assign it to the variable 't'
t = turtle.Turtle()

# Get the screen object for our window and assign it to the variable 'screen'
screen = turtle.Screen()

# Set up some variables to keep track of how many times we've danced
dance_count = 0 # Initialize the dance counter to 0
max_dances = 3 # Set the maximum number of dances to 3

# Use a while loop to repeat the dance pattern until the dance counter reaches the maximum number of dances
while dance_count < max_dances:
    # Move the turtle forward by 100 pixels
    t.forward(100)
    
    # Turn the turtle left by 90 degrees
    t.left(90)
    
    # Increment the dance counter by 1
    dance_count += 1
    
    # Print a message to the console indicating the current dance number
    print("Dance number:", dance_count)

Save your file, open it in your Python interpreter or IDE, and run it! You should see a window pop up with a virtual turtle inside. Watch as it dances three times, moving forward and turning left each time.

But wait there’s more! Let’s add some color to our dance floor by changing the background color of our window:

import turtle # import the turtle module
t = turtle.Turtle() # create a new Turtle object
screen = turtle.Screen() # get the screen object for our window

# set up some variables to keep track of how many times we've danced
dance_count = 0 # initialize dance_count to 0
max_dances = 3 # set the maximum number of dances to 3

while dance_count < max_dances: # loop until dance_count reaches max_dances
    t.forward(100) # move forward by 100 pixels
    t.left(90) # turn left by 90 degrees
    dance_count += 1 # increment dance_count by 1
    print("Dance number:", dance_count) # print a message to the console

screen.bgcolor('blue') # change the background color of our window to blue

Save your file, open it in your Python interpreter or IDE, and run it! You should see a blue window pop up with a virtual turtle inside. Watch as it dances three times, moving forward and turning left each time.

And that’s it for our Python Turtle Tutorial! We hope you enjoyed learning how to make your own virtual dance floor using Python Turtle. Remember: no actual turtles were harmed during this process (unless you accidentally close the window).

SICORPS