This Python Programming Tutorial is designed for absolute beginners. A little or no knowledge or experience is required to learn Python Programming. This tutorial adopts beginner approach to a professional level.
You have complete access to well-explained and comprehensive lectures. Numerous effective examples, code snippets and interesting specific topic related quizzes are included in this Python Programming Language Tutorial. A number of HOW-TO articles are added those broaden the sphere to understand Python Programming and provide a quick solution to a specific problem. Comprehensive Python Language Reference, Functions, and Classes with simple and easy to understand examples and code snippets are also added to complete the knowledge and easy development. You don’t have to wander for each specific topic around the internet. This is one stop complete solution to your Python learning.
A Brief Introduction to Python Programming Language
Python is an easy to learn, well-designed, high-level, interactive scripting programming language. It has a simple and effective approach to an object-oriented programming scripting language. It meets nearly all the fundamental aspects of a good general purpose programming language of today and tomorrow.
According to ieee.org top programming spectrum ranking, Python ranks 3rd in the popularity. It ranks far above the other popular languages like C#, PHP, Ruby and even C++. It falls just after the C and Java.
Python is FREE and Open Source. It is available on all major operating systems like Linux, Windows and Mac OS, etc. Python is a portable language across the all major operating systems. A Python program can be developed in Windows environment and then the same program can be run on Linux or Mac OS without changing a single line of code in most of the cases. Therefore, it is suitable for any kind of graphical user interface (GUI), application programming interface (API), and system software or web development. Python scripting language fits in all area of programming.
Python code is designed to be readable and focus on software quality that sets it apart from others in the scripting world like JavaScript, PHP, etc. In addition, Python has deep support for more advanced software reuse, such as object-oriented and function programming. These features enhance software quality and productivity of the developers.
Python increases productivity many times beyond the compiled or statically typed languages such as Java, C, and C++. Mostly, Python code is one-third to the size of some popular languages like PHP, C++ or Java, or even sometimes one-fifth. This dramatically decreases the effort of code writing, debugging and further maintenance and obviously, increases the code readability and understanding.
Operating Systems or Platforms Supported by Python
Following is a brief list of supported platforms by Python Programming Language.
- Linux, Unix, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS systems
- BeOS, OS/2, VMS, and QNX, VxWorks
- Super Computers and IBM mainframes
- PDAs, Pocket PC, Cellphones, Gaming consoles, iPods
- Tablets and Smart Phones
As you have read Python Programming Language almost supports all major and modern platforms of today and tomorrow.
History of Python Programming Language
According to Wikipedia, “Python was conceived in the late 1980s, and its implementation began in December 1989 by Guido van Rossum at Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) in the Netherlands as a successor to the ABC language (itself inspired by SETL) capable of exception handling and interfacing with the operating system Amoeba.”
Reference: Wikipedia.org
The Python Programming Language is named after the BBC show “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” not the Python (The Big Snake).
The following table shows the release history of Major Python Programming Language
Major Python Version | Python Release Date |
| Python 1.0 (Official first standard release) | Jan-1994 |
Python 2.0
| 16-Oct-2000 |
Python 3.0 (This release is not backward compatible with Python 2.x. This is focused on removing duplicative constructs and modules.)
There is a very long list of changes made in Python 3.0 to improve productivity, maintenance of code and reduce programming ambiguity and bugs. A complete change history of Python 3.0 can be found here. | 03-Dec-2008 |
What can you do with Python Programming Language?
By using python you can create:
- Web Apps ( such as Mailman, Allura, Bloodhound, etc. )
- Desktop Software ( such as Bit torrent, Bazaar, Cinema 4D, etc.)
- Games ( such as Civilization IV, Battlefield 2, Unity of command, etc. )
Everything a developer can imagine to develop a good program.
Nature of Python Programming Language
Some people consider python as ‘scripting language’ programs written in python commonly known as scripts.
But python is not merely a scripting language. It has procedural, functional and object-oriented paradigms. Developers use it as a general-purpose programming language. It is both scripting as well as general purpose programming language at the same time.
Some of the Big Companies using Python Programming Language
- Google (At Google, Python is one of the major programming languages along with C++ and Java)
- Youtube (Youtube widely used Python in its search engine)
- Yahoo
- Maya (a leading 3D animation, simulation modeling and rendering software use python as a core programming language)
- NASA
- Drop Box
- reddit.com is a large social platform. It is entirely built on Python Programming Language.
You can find a detail list of companies using Python here. This is a clear indication of productively, popularity and bright future of Python Programming Language.
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