Introduction to Python Programming Language

Introduction to Python Programming Language, What is Python?, Python Language key features, Python implementations, Applications of Python, Python development environment setup, and drawbacks of Python.

1. What is Python?

Python is a Programming language, so primary purpose of Python is Software Development.

Python is not named after the snake Python, The father of Python – Guido Van Rossum said the name of the language was taken from the British comedy series “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”.

Python is a general-purpose, high-level, interpreted, interactive, object-oriented, open source programming language.

2. Key features of Python Language?

i) Free and Open Source:

ii) Object-Oriented Language:

Python supports object oriented language and concepts of classes and objects come into existence.

iii) Easy to Learn and Use:

Python is easy to learn and use. It is developer-friendly and high level programming language.

iv) Cross-platform Language:

Python can run equally on different platforms such as Windows, Linux, Unix and Macintosh etc. So, we can say that Python is a portable language.

v) Integrated:

It can be easily integrated with languages like C, C++, JAVA etc.

Note: Python has so many other features also there, but here I mentioned key features only.

3. Implementation of Python

Python has a number of alternative implementations are available:

Cpython: The default implementation of the Python programming language is Cpython. As the name suggests Cpython is written in C language.

IronPython: (Python running on .NET)

Jython: (Python running on the Java Virtual Machine)

PyPy: (A fast python implementation with a JIT compiler)

Stackless Python: (Branch of CPython supporting micro-threads)

MicroPython: (Python running on micro controllers)

Anaconda Python: Anaconda is a free and open-source distribution of the Python and R programming languages for scientific computing.

4. Applications of Python

Python is used to develop:

i. Desktop GUI (Graphical User Interface)
ii. Web and Internet Development (IoT – Internet of Things)
iii. Games and 3D Graphics
iv. Scientific and Numeric Applications
v. Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
vi. Data Science and Data Visualization
vii. Enterprise Applications (Such as e-commerce, ERP and many more.)
viii. Network Programming
ix. Embedded Applications
x. Audio and Video Applications
xi. Education
xii. CAD (Computer-Aided Designing) Applications
xiii. Software Testing / Writing automated tests
xiv. Python for DevOps / System administration / Writing automation scripts.

5. Python Environment Setup

Python environment is required to write & execute / run Python programs,

Steps (For Windows OS):

ii) Install Python Software and set PATH while installation

iii) After installation you can get Python IDLE, launch IDLE, write & execute Python programs.

Note: Python IDLE is best for learning Python language, but for working (commercial purpose), download & install PyCharm IDE, and write & execute Python programs using pyCharm IDE.

6. Drawbacks of Python Language

i) Python has a slow speed of execution. It is slower than C, C++ and Java because it works with an interpreter, not the compiler.

ii) Python language is seen as less suitable for mobile development and game development.

iii) Python has high memory consumption and is not used in web browsers because it is not secure.

iv) he Python’s database access layer is primitive and underdeveloped in comparison to the popular technologies like JDBC and ODBC.

v) Python is a dynamically typed language so the data type of a variable can change anytime. A variable containing integer number may hold a string in the future, which can lead to Runtime Errors.