Python Introduction

Python is a widely used programming language. Guido van Rossum created it, and its first release came out in 1991.

People use it to build the server side of websites, to develop software, to work with mathematics, and to write system scripts.

On a server, Python can power web applications. Next to other software, it can tie steps together into workflows. It can also talk to database systems, read and change files, process big data, and solve complex math problems. Thanks to this range, it suits both quick prototypes and software that is ready for production.

One reason to choose Python is that it runs on many platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, and Raspberry Pi. Its syntax is simple and reads a lot like English, and a program often takes fewer lines than it would in some other languages. An interpreter runs your code right after you write it, so trying out an idea is very quick. You are also free to work in a procedural, object-oriented, or functional style.

This tutorial uses Python 3, the latest major version of the language.

A plain text editor is enough for writing Python. For larger collections of Python files, an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) such as Thonny, PyCharm, Netbeans, or Eclipse is especially helpful.

Readability was a main goal when Python was designed. Its code borrows from English and shows some influence from mathematics.

A new line is what finishes a command in Python, whereas other languages often rely on semicolons or parentheses.

Scope is handled differently too. Loops, functions, and classes mark their scope with indentation (whitespace) in Python, while other languages often use curly brackets.