What is Python

chapter:1: Basics of Python

What is Python

• Python is a general purpose programming language. It is high level and object oriented programming language. It was created by Guido Van Rossum during 1985‒1990.

1. Features of Python

•  Following are features of python :

1. Python is free and open source programming language. The software can be downloaded and used freely.

2. It high level programming language.

3.It is simple and easy to learn.

4. It is portable. That means python programs can be executed on various platforms without altering them.

5. The python programs do not require compilation, rather they are interpreted. 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.

6. It is an object oriented programming language.

7. It can be embedded within your C or C++ programs.

8 . It is rich set of functionality available in its huge standard library.

9. Python has a powerful set of built‒in data types and easy‒to‒use control constructs.

10. It has rich and supportive community to help the developer while creating new applications.

11. Using few lines of code many useful applications can be developed using python.

Uses of Python in Industry

• Top companies are using python for their business application development. Even the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is using python to maintain their websites.

• Facebook uses the python language in their production engineering.

• NASA uses workflow automation tool which is written in python.

• Nokia which is a popular telecommunication company who uses python for its platform such as $60.

• The entire stack of Dropbox was written in python.

• Quora is a popular social commenting websites which is also written in python.

•  Instagram is another website which uses python for its front‒end.

• YouTube also uses scripted python for their websites.

2. History and Future of Python

• Python is a general purpose programming language.

• It is high level and object oriented programming language.

• It was created by Guido van Rossum during 1985 ‒ 1990.

• Python 3.0 was released in 2008. Although this version is supposed to be backward incompatibles, later on many of its important features have been backported to be compatible with version 2.7.

Future of python

• Python programming language is extensively used for web development, application development, system administration, developing games and so on.

1) Artificial intelligence

• There are plenty of python frameworks, libraries, and tools that are specifically developed to direct Artificial Intelligence to reduce human efforts with increased accuracy and efficiency for various development purposes.

• Machine Learning with python has made it possible to recognize images, videos, speech recognition and much more.

2) Big data

• The future scope of python programming language can also be predicted by the way it has helped big data technology to grow.

• Python has been successfully contributing in analyzing a large number of data sets across computer clusters through its high‒performance toolkits and libraries.

3) Networking

• Networking is another field in which python has a brighter scope in the future.

• Python programming language is used to read, write and configure routers and switches and perform other networking automation tasks in a cost‒effective and secure manner.

Review Question

1.Explain features and uses of python.