Python is a simple and minimalistic language. Reading a good
Python program feels almost like reading English, although very
strict English! This pseudo-code nature of Python is one of its
greatest strengths. It allows you to concentrate on the solution
to the problem rather than the language itself.
Easy to Learn
As you will see, Python is extremely easy to get started with.
Python has an extraordinarily simple syntax, as already mentioned.
Free and Open Source
Python is an example of a FLOSS
(Free/Librà and Open Source Software). In simple terms,
you can freely distribute copies of this software, read it's
source code, make changes to it, use pieces of it in new
free programs, and that you know you can do these things. FLOSS
is based on the concept of a community which shares knowledge.
This is one of the reasons why Python is so good - it has been
created and is constantly improved by a community who just want
to see a better Python.
High-level Language
When you write programs in Python, you never need to bother about
the low-level details such as managing the memory used by your
program, etc.
Portable
Due to its open-source nature, Python has been ported (i.e. changed
to make it work on) to many platforms. All your Python programs can
work on any of these platforms without requiring any changes at all
if you are careful enough to avoid any system-dependent features.
You can use Python on Linux, Windows, FreeBSD, Macintosh, Solaris,
OS/2, Amiga, AROS, AS/400, BeOS, OS/390, z/OS, Palm OS, QNX, VMS,
Psion, Acorn RISC OS, VxWorks, PlayStation, Sharp Zaurus, Windows CE
and even PocketPC !
Interpreted
This requires a bit of explanation.
A program written in a compiled language like C or C++ is converted
from the source language i.e. C or C++ into a language that is
spoken by your computer (binary code i.e. 0s and 1s) using a compiler
with various flags and options. When you run the program, the
linker/loader software copies the program from hard disk to memory
and starts running it.
Python, on the other hand, does not need compilation to binary.
You just run the program directly from the source
code. Internally, Python converts the source code into an intermediate
form called bytecodes and then translates this into the native
language of your computer and then runs it. All this, actually, makes
using Python much easier since you don't have to worry about
compiling the program, making sure that the proper libraries are
linked and loaded, etc, etc. This also makes your Python programs
much more portable, since you can just copy your Python program onto
another computer and it just works!
Object Oriented
Python supports procedure-oriented programming as well as
object-oriented programming. In procedure-oriented
languages, the program is built around procedures or functions which
are nothing but reusable pieces of programs. In
object-oriented languages, the program is built
around objects which combine data and functionality. Python has a very
powerful but simplistic way of doing OOP, especially when compared to
big languages like C++ or Java.
Extensible
If you need a critical piece of code to run very fast or want to
have some piece of algorithm not to be open, you can code that
part of your program in C or C++ and then use them from your
Python program.
Embeddable
You can embed Python within your C/C++ programs to give 'scripting'
capabilities for your program's users.
Extensive Libraries
The Python Standard Library is huge indeed. It can help you do various
things involving regular expressions, documentation generation, unit
testing, threading, databases, web browsers, CGI, ftp, email, XML,
XML-RPC, HTML, WAV files, cryptography, GUI (graphical user interfaces),
Tk, and other system-dependent stuff. Remember, all this is always
available wherever Python is installed. This is called the 'Batteries
Included' philosophy of Python.
Besides, the standard library, there are various other high-quality
libraries such as wxPython,
Twisted,
Python Imaging
Library and many more.
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