Python | What is Python? An Introduction to the Python Programming Language

 What is Python? An Introduction to the Python Programming Languages

Python is developed by Guido van Rossum. Guido van Rossum started implementing Python in 1989. Python is a very simple programming language so even if you are new to programming, you can learn python without facing any issues.

Python is named after the comedy television show Monty Python’s Flying Circus. It is not named after the Python snake.

Features of Python programming language:

Readable: Python is a very readable language.

Easy to Learn: Learning python is easy as this is a expressive and high level programming language, which means it is easy to understand the language and thus easy to learn.

Cross platform: Python is available and can run on various operating systems such as Mac, Windows, Linux, Unix etc. This makes it a cross platform and portable language.

Open Source: Python is a open source programming language.

Large standard library: Python comes with a large standard library that has some handy codes and functions which we can use while writing code in Python.

Free: Python is free to download and use. This means you can download it for free and use it in your application. See:  Open Source Python License. Python is an example of a FOSS (Free Open Source Software), which means you can freely distribute copies of this software, read its source code and modify it.

Supports exception handling: If you are new, you may wonder what is an exception? An exception is an event that can occur during program exception and can disrupt the normal flow of program. Python supports exception handling which means we can write less error prone code and can test various scenarios that can cause an exception later on.

Advanced features: Supports generators and list comprehensions. We will cover these features later.

Automatic memory management: Python supports automatic memory management which means the memory is cleared and freed automatically. You do not have to bother clearing the memory.

What Can You Do with Python?

You may be wondering what all are the applications of Python. There are so many applications of Python, here are some of the them.

Web development: Web framework like Django and Flask are based on Python. They help you write server side code which helps you manage database, write backend programming logic, mapping urls etc.

Machine learning: There are many machine learning applications written in Python. Machine learning is a way to write a logic so that a machine can learn and solve a particular problem on its own. For example, products recommendation in websites like Amazon, Flipkart, eBay etc. is a machine learning algorithm that recognizes user’s interest. Face recognition and Voice recognition in your phone is another example of machine learning.

Data Analysis: Data analysis and data visualisation in form of charts can also be developed using Python.

Scripting: Scripting is writing small programs to automate simple tasks such as sending automated response emails etc. Such type of applications can also be written in Python programming language.

Game Development: You can develop games using Python.

Embedded Applications Development: You can develop Embedded applications in Python.

Desktop applications: You can develop desktop application in Python using library like TKinter or QT.

Why Python?

• Python works on different platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi, etc).
• Python has a simple syntax similar to the English language.
• Python has syntax that allows developers to write programs with fewer lines than some other programming languages.
• Python runs on an interpreter system, meaning that code can be executed as soon as it is written. This means that prototyping can be very quick.
• Python can be treated in a procedural way, an object-orientated way or a functional way.

Python Syntax compared to other programming languages

• Python was designed for readability, and has some similarities to the English language with influence from mathematics.
• Python uses new lines to complete a command, as opposed to other programming languages which often use semicolons or parentheses.
• Python relies on indentation, using white space, to define scope; such as the scope of loops, functions and classes. Other programming languages often use curly-brackets for this purpose.

Good to know

• The most recent major version of Python is Python 3, so it’s better to learn Python 3.
• Python community already frozen Python 2.

Who use Python?

As Python is a widely used programming language. Some of the places where Python is used are :

• Google — Python is one of the key language used in google.
• Philips — Philips uses Python for the sequencing language (language that tells what steps each robot should take).
• Frequentis — Frequentis is the originator of TAPTools, a software product that is used for air traffic control in many airports. This particular tool provides updates on the weather and runway conditions to air traffic controllers. So, you depend on Python when you fly.
• Quora — Quora also chose Python for its development.
• CodesDope — Yes, we also use Python.
• Battlefield 2 — Battlefield 2 uses Python to implement core elements of its gameplay such as score-keeping and team-balancing.
• Instagram — Instagram also uses Python for its backend.
• Walt Disney Feature Animation — Walt Disney Feature Animation is also using Python to make their animation production system more efficient in scripting.
• NASA — Johnson Space center uses Python in its Integrated Planning System as the standard scripting language.
• Civilization 4 — The new addition to the legendary strategy game series has all of its inner logic, including AI, implemented in Python.
• YouTube — We all love youtube and and youtube loves using Python
• DropBox — Dropbox allows us to store, sync, and share almost anything using the power of Python.
• Pinterest — Pinterest is a visual discovery tool that allows users to showcase their interests through the posting of pictures.

This list is never-ending, with new additions to it every day, but I hope it is enough to motivate you to learn Python.

Tutorial Basic Resources

https://www.w3schools.com/python/

https://www.tutorialspoint.com/python/

https://www.programiz.com/python-programming