Overview
Python is a popular programming language created by Guido van Rossum, and released in 1991.
It is used for:
- Web development (server-side)
- Software development
- Mathematics
- System scripting
What can Python do?
- On a server to create web applications
- Alongside software to create workflows
- To connect to database systems, and read/modify files
- To handle big data and perform complex mathematics
- For rapid prototyping, or for production-ready software development
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, making for quick prototyping
- Python can be treated in a procedural way, an object-oriented way, or a functional way
Example Code
print('Hello World')Python Notes:
- The most recent major version of Python is Python 3; however, Python 2 is still in use and quite popular, although not being updated with anything other than security updates
- 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 whitespace to define scope, such as the scope of loops, functions, and classes; other programming languages often use curly-brackets for this purpose
- Python string methods return new values, and DO NOT change the original string
We’d like to acknowledge that we learned a great deal of our coding from W3Schools and TutorialsPoint, borrowing heavily from their teaching process and excellent code examples. We highly recommend both sites to deepen your experience, and further your coding journey. We’re just hitting the basics here at 1SMARTchicken.