4.2. Our First Turtle Program¶

Let’s try a couple of lines of Python code to create a new turtle and start drawing a simple figure like a rectangle. We will refer to our first turtle using the name alex, but remember that you can choose any name you wish as long as you follow the naming rules from the previous chapter.

The program as shown will only draw the first two sides of the rectangle. After line 4 you will have a straight line going from the center of the drawing canvas towards the right. After line 6, you will have a canvas with a turtle and a half drawn rectangle. Press the run button to try it and see.

import turtle               # allows us to use the turtles library

wn = turtle.Screen()        # creates a graphics window

alex = turtle.Turtle()      # create a turtle named alex

alex.forward(150)           # tell alex to move forward by 150 units

alex.left(90)               # turn by 90 degrees

alex.forward(75)            # complete the second side of a rectangle

​

(ch03_1)

Here are a couple of things you’ll need to understand about this program.

The first line tells Python to load a module named turtle. That module brings us two new types that we can use: the Turtle type, and the Screen type. The dot notation turtle.Turtle means “The Turtle type that is defined within the turtle module”. (Remember that Python is case sensitive, so the module name, turtle, with a lowercase t, is different from the type Turtle because of the uppercase T.)

We then create and open what the turtle module calls a screen (we would prefer to call it a window, or in the case of this web version of Python simply a canvas), which we assign to the name wn. Every window contains a canvas, which is the area inside the window on which we can draw.

In line 3 we create a turtle. The name alex is made to refer to this turtle. These first three lines set us up so that we are ready to do some drawing.

In lines 4-6, we instruct the object alex to move and to turn. We do this by invoking or activating alex’s methods — these are the instructions that all turtles know how to respond to.

Check your understanding

Mixed up programs

turtle-2-2: The following program uses a turtle to draw a capital L as shown in the picture to the left of this text, but the lines are mixed up. The program should do all necessary set-up: import the turtle module, get the window to draw on, and create the turtle. Remember that the turtle starts off facing east when it is created. The turtle should turn to face south and draw a line that is 150 pixels long and then turn to face east and draw a line that is 75 pixels long. We have added a compass to the picture to indicate the directions north, south, west, and east.

Drag the blocks of statements from the left column to the right column and put them in the right order. Then click on Check Me to see if you are right. You will be told if any of the lines are in the wrong order.

undefined

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ella.left(90)ella.forward(75)

import turtlewindow = turtle.Screen()ella = turtle.Turtle()

ella.right(90)ella.forward(150)

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turtle-2-3: The following program uses a turtle to draw a checkmark as shown to the left, but the lines are mixed up. The program should do all necessary set-up: import the turtle module, get the window to draw on, and create the turtle. The turtle should turn to face southeast, draw a line that is 75 pixels long, then turn to face northeast, and draw a line that is 150 pixels long. We have added a compass to the picture to indicate the directions north, south, west, and east. Northeast is between north and east. Southeast is between south and east.

Drag the blocks of statements from the left column to the right column and put them in the right order. Then click on Check Me to see if you are right. You will be told if any of the lines are in the wrong order.

undefined

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import turtle

maria = turtle.Turtle()

maria.right(45)maria.forward(75)

window = turtle.Screen()

maria.left(90)maria.forward(150)

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turtle-2-4: The following program uses a turtle to draw a single line to the west as shown to the left, but the program lines are mixed up. The program should do all necessary set-up: import the turtle module, get the window to draw on, and create the turtle. The turtle should then turn to face west and draw a line that is 75 pixels long.

Drag the blocks of statements from the left column to the right column and put them in the right order. Then click on Check Me to see if you are right. You will be told if any of the lines are in the wrong order.

undefined

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jamal = turtle.Turtle()

import turtle

jamal.left(180)

window = turtle.Screen()

jamal.forward(75)

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An object can have various methods — things it can do — and it can also have attributes — (sometimes called properties). For example, each turtle has a color attribute. The method invocation alex.color(“red”) will make alex red and the line that it draws will be red too.

The color of the turtle, the width of its pen(tail), the position of the turtle within the window, which way it is facing, and so on are all part of its current state. Similarly, the window object has a background color which is part of its state.

Quite a number of methods exist that allow us to modify the turtle and window objects. In the example below, we show just show a couple and have only commented those lines that are different from the previous example. Note also that we have decided to call our turtle object tess.

import turtle

​

wn = turtle.Screen()

wn.bgcolor("lightgreen")        # set the window background color

​

tess = turtle.Turtle()

tess.color("blue")              # make tess blue

tess.pensize(3)                 # set the width of her pen

​

tess.forward(50)

tess.left(120)

tess.forward(50)

​

wn.exitonclick()                # wait for a user click on the canvas

​

(ch03_2)

The last line plays a very important role. The name wn refers to the window shown above. When we invoke its exitonclick method, the program pauses execution and waits for the user to click the mouse somewhere in the window. When this click event occurs, the response is to close the turtle window and exit (stop execution of) the Python program.

Each time we run this program, a new drawing window pops up, and will remain on the screen until we click on it.

Check your understanding

import turtle
wn = turtle.Screen()
alex = turtle.Turtle()
alex.forward(150)
alex.left(90)
alex.forward(75)

turtle-2-8: Which of the following code would produce the following image?

(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
Check MeCompare me

Mixed up programs

turtle-2-9: The following program uses a turtle to draw a capital L in white on a blue background as shown to the left, but the lines are mixed up. The program should do all necessary set-up and create the turtle and set the pen size to 10. The turtle should then turn to face south, draw a line that is 150 pixels long, turn to face east, and draw a line that is 75 pixels long. Finally, set the window to close when the user clicks in it.

Drag the blocks of statements from the left column to the right column and put them in the right order. Then click on Check Me to see if you are right. You will be told if any of the lines are in the wrong order.

undefined

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jamal.left(90)jamal.forward(75)wn.exitonclick()

wn.bgcolor("blue")jamal = turtle.Turtle()

jamal.right(90)jamal.forward(150)

jamal.color("white")jamal.pensize(10)

import turtlewn = turtle.Screen()

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turtle-2-10: The following program uses a turtle to draw a capital T in white on a green background as shown to the left, but the lines are mixed up. The program should do all necessary set-up, create the turtle, and set the pen size to 10. After that the turtle should turn to face north, draw a line that is 150 pixels long, turn to face west, and draw a line that is 50 pixels long. Next, the turtle should turn 180 degrees and draw a line that is 100 pixels long. Finally, set the window to close when the user clicks in it.

Drag the blocks of statements from the left column to the right column and put them in the right order. Then click on Check Me to see if you are right. You will be told if any of the lines are in the wrong order.

undefined

Drag from here

jamal.left(90)jamal.forward(150)

import turtlewn = turtle.Screen()wn.bgcolor("green")jamal = turtle.Turtle()jamal.color("white")jamal.pensize(10)

jamal.right(180)jamal.forward(100)

wn.exitonclick()

jamal.left(90)jamal.forward(50)

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