Lesson 3: Variables and creating your first video

In Python, basic variables are used to store data values. The common types of variables include:

1. Integer (int): Represents whole numbers, e.g., 5, 100, -3.
2. Float (float): Represents real numbers with a decimal point, e.g., 3.14, -0.001.
3. String (str): Used for sequences of characters, e.g., "Hello", "123abc".
4. Boolean (bool): Represents True or False values.
5. List: A collection which is ordered and changeable, e.g., [1, 2, 3], ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry'].
6. Tuple: An ordered collection which is unchangeable, e.g., (1, 2, 3), ('a', 'b', 'c').
7. Dictionary (dict): A collection of key-value pairs, e.g., {'name': 'Alice', 'age': 25}.

To create a variable in Python, you simply assign a value to a variable name:

x = 10          # integer
y = 20.5        # float
name = "Alice"  # string
is_student = True # boolean
numbers = [1, 2, 3]  # list
coordinates = (10, 20) # tuple
person_info = {'name': 'Bob', 'age': 30} # dictionary

Variables in Python are dynamically typed, meaning you don’t need to explicitly declare their type before using them. The type is inferred from the value they are assigned.

Here’s an example script to write the name “Arjun” using Manim:

from manim import *

class WriteName(Scene):
    def construct(self):
        # Create a text object with the name
        name = Text("Arjun", font_size=96)

        # Create an animation where the name is written on the screen
        self.play(Write(name))

        # Keep the name displayed for a few seconds
        self.wait(2)

This script creates a basic animation where the name “Arjun” is written on the screen. You can replace “Arjun” with your own name. To run the script, save it in a Python file (e.g., write_name.py) and run it with Manim:

manim -p -ql write_name.py WriteName

This command will generate a video file with the animation. The -p flag is for previewing the video, -ql is for quick rendering at low quality, which is useful for testing.