Introduction to Python
Why Python?
- Python is object-oriented.
- Python is free.
- Python is open-source software.
- Python is portable.
- Python is a scripting language.
- Python is a general-purpose programming language.
- Python makes it easy to develop GUI programs.
- Python has lots of class libraries.
- Python is an interpreted language, with the advantages that brings:
- Dynamic typing
- No compile step
- Automatic memory management
- Python is a compiled language.
- Python code compiles quickly, normally at the moment you ask it to run.
- Compiled code runs faster than pure interpreted code. (But Python, like Java
and USCD Pascal, compiles to byte code, not real machine code. The byte
code is interpreted.)
Who uses Python?
- Red Hat's Linux installation program and Linux management programs are written in Python.
- NASA uses Python for mission-control systems.
- Industrial Light and Magic (and many other special effects houses) use Python in their applications.
- Even Microsoft has shipped a product partially written in Python.