Introduction

What is Python? #

Python is a powerful, yet easy to learn programming language. It has efficient high-level data structures and a simple but effective approach to object-oriented programming. Python’s elegant syntax and dynamic typing, together with its interpreted nature, make it an ideal language for both scripting and rapid application development in many areas and on most platforms.

Python also integrates well with your existing applications and libraries; you can extend Python with code written in C or C++ (or any language that is callable from C), and also use it as an extension language for your application. There are separate implementations available for Java and Microsoft’s .NET platform.

The Python interpreter and the extensive standard library are available in source and binary form for all major platforms from the Python Web site, http://www.python.org, and may be freely redistributed. The site also contains a repository of over a thousand third party Python modules (Cheese Shop), as well as additional resources for learning Python and getting support.

About this Tutorial #

This tutorial is an informal introduction to Python. It does not attempt to cover every single feature of the language, or even every commonly used feature, but it does try to introduce Python’s most noteworthy features and will give you a good idea of the language’s flavor and style. After reading it, you will be able to read and write Python modules and programs, and you will be ready to learn more about the various Python library modules described in the Python Library Reference. It helps to have a Python interpreter handy for hands-on experience, but all examples are self-contained, so the tutorial can be read off-line as well.

Additional Resources #

For a description of standard objects and modules, see the Python Library Reference document. The Python Reference Manual gives a more formal definition of the language. To write extensions in C or C++, read Extending and Embedding the Python Interpreter and Python/C API Reference. There are also several books covering Python in depth (see the PythonBooks page in the Python Wiki).

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Comment:

"Is the idea to put suggested changes in a comment first, to gather opinion before editing?" Use your judgement. If the changes are extensive enough, working on a copy is probably best (see the note on the front pages).

Posted by infogami

Comment:

"These things give it a rather academic flavour in my view." I fully agree. Feel free to replace them.

Posted by infogami

Comment:

I altered the structure of the Abstract and re-worded things slightly. IMHO it is now more concise and reads better - what do you think? Is the idea to put suggested changes in a comment first, to gather opinion before editing? Also, what about changing 'Abstract' to 'What is Python?' ? changing 'Front Matter' to 'Intro' or 'Welcome' ? moving the Copyright to an appendix, with maybe a link to it from here? These things give it a rather academic flavour in my view. Gerard Flanagan

Posted by infogami

Comment:

The message should (IMO) be that "Python integrates well with your existing code and your existing libraries", not "you have to write C to get things done". Java (Jython) and DotNet/C# (IronPython) deserves to be mentioned too, in some discrete way... As for the audience, I've added a [separate page](audience) for further discussion.

Posted by infogami

Comment:

What is the target audience for the tutorial? Is it programming newbies, java or c programmers who want to upgrade, or are they comp.sci graduates? Starting the tutorial with that it can be extended in other languages gives the wrong idea to people imho, why bother learning python if you end up writing C? (I know it's different). Do others agree with this?

Posted by infogami

Comment:

Can I add a Chinese translation?

Posted by infogami