For readers new to Python this introductory chapter offers a high-level overview of Python and why it has become such a widely-used programming language. We will briefly touch on some key factors behind Python’s popularity before diving into the specifics in later chapters.
As we progress, the fundamentals of Python will be covered through tutorials and sample projects to provide hands-on experience. By the end, new programmers will better understand Python’s capabilities and applicability for different tasks. This section takes the form of commonly asked questions for those just starting to explain what makes Python a versatile and beginner-friendly language to learn.
Check out our Python Cheat Sheet for quick revision.
Why Do People Use Python?
With so many programming languages around, it’s natural for beginners to wonder which one to choose. While Python has over a million users, the “best” language depends on your unique needs and preferences. Think of it like choosing the right tool for a job. Different tools work better for different situations.
Some primary factors mentioned by Python users seem to be these:
1. Software Quality
Many programmers love Python for its focus on making code clear and easy to follow. This “human-readable” approach makes it simpler to reuse code, fix problems, and collaborate with others. Unlike some other scripting languages, Python code is consistent and predictable, even if you didn’t write it yourself.
Plus, Python offers powerful tools like object-oriented programming to help you build well-organized and reusable software.
2. Developer productivity
Compared to compiled languages like C++, Java, and C, Python can significantly boost developer productivity. Here’s why:
- Less code to write: Python code is typically 2-5 times shorter than its C++ or Java counterpart. This means less time typing, debugging, and maintaining the code.
- Faster development cycle: Python programs run directly, eliminating the need for lengthy compilation and linking steps. This lets developers iterate quickly and see their changes instantly.
These improvements contribute to a more efficient and streamlined development process for Python users.
3. Program portability
Forget worrying about adapting your code! Most Python programs work seamlessly across different operating systems, like Linux and Windows. Moving your Python script from one machine to another is usually as simple as copying the code.
That’s not all! Python also provides tools for creating portable graphical interfaces, database connections, web apps, and more. Even low-level tasks like launching programs and managing files are incredibly portable with Python.
4. Libraries
Python comes with a large collection of pre-made functions and tools called the standard library. This library covers different tasks, from analyzing text to automating network processes. But that’s not all! Python can be extended with custom-built libraries and a massive pool of third-party software.
Imagine building websites, crunching numbers, controlling devices, or creating games all with Python’s extensive library support. For example, the popular NumPy library offers powerful tools for numerical computations, rivaling the capabilities of paid systems like Matlab.
5. Component integration
Python isn’t an island. It integrates smoothly with other parts of your system using different tools. This makes it a great choice for customizing and extending existing applications. Python code can:
- Talk to C and C++ libraries: Leverage pre-built functionality from these languages.
- Be called by C and C++ programs: Integrate seamlessly with existing code.
- Connect with Java and .NET components: Work alongside popular development platforms.
- Interact with devices: Talk to hardware through serial ports.
- Communicate over networks: Use standard protocols like SOAP and XML-RPC.
This means you can use Python to glue different parts of your system together, making it more versatile and powerful.
Is Python a Scripting Language?
After using and teaching Python for many years, I’ve found the only real drawback to be that its execution speed may not match that of fully compiled languages like C and C++. This is because mainstream Python implementations compile code to an intermediate byte code format, and then interpret that. While the byte code provides portability across platforms, interpreted execution can be slower than running compiled machine code.
Whether or not this execution speed difference will impact your programs depends on the types of applications you build. Many common Python workloads like processing files or building user interfaces dispatch performance-sensitive tasks to linked C code, running at near C speeds. Python’s fast development cycles often offset any modest execution slowdowns. programmer time is usually more valuable than CPU time.
For special domains like numeric programming and animation that require optimal speeds, Python can still be leveraged by pushing performance-critical sections into compiled extensions. These extensions can be linked back to enable fast Python scripting. The NumPy numeric extension for Python is one prime example enabling both quick coding and C-like speeds. So compiled extensions provide an optimization path if you ever need it.
Who Uses Python Today?
Python has an estimated user base of around 1 million developers though exact figures are difficult to measure for open-source software. Active communities and long-term stability reflect 19 years of growth. Python nowadays sees use in real revenue-generating products across many organizations:
- Web companies like Google and YouTube employ Python in large-scale search and video-sharing platforms, using its strengths in fast development.
- Open-source tools like BitTorrent leverage Python to enable peer-to-peer functionality.
- Cloud platforms provide Python development frameworks to simplify building web applications.
- The 3D modeling package Maya integrates a Python API for flexible custom scripting.
- Cutting-edge performance domains like financial forecasting, robotics, and scientific programming apply Python for its versatility.
- Government agencies use Python for cryptography, intelligence analysis, and space exploration.
What Can I Do with Python?
Beyond its clean language design python enables real-world application development. Its versatility makes it a general-purpose tool for tasks like scripting components, building standalone programs, website creation, gaming, robotics, and more. Some major use cases include:
1. Systems Programming
Python interfaces well with operating systems. It allows portable system administration and shell tools for file/text manipulation, launching processes, multithreading, and more. Its standard library offers cross-platform support for common OS functionality.
2. GUI Development
Python supports full-featured cross-platform GUI development through different toolkits. The Tkinter package provides portable GUI construction using the Tk toolkit. Third-party extensions like PMW and wxPython offer richer widget sets.
Other bindings allow leveraging GUI frameworks like Qt, GTK, MFC, .NET, Swing, and more. For simpler interfaces python web frameworks support browser-based GUIs and server-side CGI scripts.
3. Internet Scripting
Python’s standard library includes complete modules for networking tasks like communicating over sockets, handling CGI forms, transferring files, parsing XML/HTML, sending emails, making API calls, and more. Third-party packages extend internet functionality further. Full web development frameworks like Django and web2py additionally provide object-relational mapping, templating, AJAX, and other features needed to build production websites.
4. Component Integration
Python’s embeddability makes it useful for scripting the behavior of systems and components written in languages like C, C++, and Java. Tools can automate linking compiled libraries into Python for enhanced scripting.
Python implementations like Jython and IronPython facilitate integration with Java and .NET components. The result enables customizable on-site customizations without recompiling or shipping source code.
5. Database Programming
Python provides interfaces to all major database systems like MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Oracle, and more. The Python DB API defines a portable database access model that works consistently across underlying database platforms.
For object persistence, the standard pickle module can save/restore Python objects to files and streams. Third-party projects like ZODB and SQLAlchemy additionally provide object-oriented databases and object-relational mapping tools.
6. Gaming, Images, Serial Ports, XML, Robots, and More
Some other domains where Python is commonly applied:
- Game and multimedia programming using frameworks like pygame
- Serial port communication with PySerial
- Image processing using libraries like PIL, PyOpenGL, and Blender
- Robot control programming via toolkits like PyRo
- XML handling with the built-in XML package and xmlrpclib
- AI with neural net simulators and expert system shells
- Natural language processing via the NLTK package
In general, Python supports full application development lifecycles in various domains – from quick prototyping to industrial-grade production systems.
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Related FAQs
What are the six main reasons that people choose to use Python?
1. Productivity – Python has a very clear, readable syntax and dynamic typing, allowing developers to focus on problems over syntax.
2. Portability – Python code runs unchanged across many platforms like Windows, Linux, and Mac.
3. Power – Python’s robust object-oriented and functional programming tools scale up for large projects.
4. Ease of integration – Python extends other languages, and is easily extended itself.
5. Open source – Python has strong community support, as users can read, share, and change code.
6. Enjoyability – Python’s emphasis on readability, coherence, and simplicity makes coding in it pleasing.
Name four notable companies or organizations using Python today.
Google – Uses Python extensively in web search systems
NASA – Uses Python for scientific programming tasks
Spotify – Built entire platform backend in Python
Industrial Light & Magic/Pixar – Uses Python in the production of animated movies