Python (programming language)

This article is about the programming language. For the snake, see Python.

Python
Latest release:	3.2.2 / September 4, 2011 (2011-09-04)
OS:	Any
Platform:	Any
Use:
License:	Python License
Website:	http://www.python.org

Python is an open source programming language that was made to look good and be easy to read. It was created by a programmer named Guido van Rossum in the year 1991. The language is named after the TV show Monty Python and many examples include jokes from the show.

Python is an interpreted language. An interpreted language allows the programmer to give the source code to the computer and the computer runs the code right away. This means if the programmer needs to change the code they can see the result of any changes quickly. This makes Python a good programming language for beginners and for rapid development because unlike some compiled languages you do not have to go through the Compile-Build-Run-Debug cycle with Python.

Python is a high-level programming language. A high level language has advanced features which allow the programmer to write instructions without having to worry about how the computer is going to carry them out. This makes writing programs easier and faster. Python derives some of its syntax from C and can use modules written in C.

Usage

Python is used by hundreds of thousands of programmers and is used in lots of applications. Sometimes only Python code is used for a program but most of the time it is used to do simple tasks while another programming language is used to do the more complex tasks.

Its standard library is what functions come with the program when it is installed. The standard library has lots functions in it. On the Internet there are many other libraries available that make it possible for the Python language to do more things. These libraries make it a powerful language meaning that it can do lots of different things.

Here are some of the things Python is often used for:

• Web Development
• Game Programming
• Desktop GUIs
• Scientific Programming
• Network Programming

Example

This is a small example of a Python program. It shows Hello World! on the screen.

print ("Hello world!")
 
# This code does the same thing, only it is longer:
 
Hello_world = 1
if Hello_world:
   print "Hello world!"

Other websites

• Python Programming Language -- Official Website
• Python Tutorial