What is Python?

PythonPython is a programming language that lets you work more quickly and integrate your systems more effectively. You can learn to use Python and see almost immediate gains in productivity and lower maintenance costs. Python runs on Windows, Linux/Unix, Mac OS X, and has been ported to the Java and .NET virtual machines.

Features

  • Powerful and fast. Python lets you write the code you need, quickly. And, thanks to a highly optimized byte compiler and support libraries, Python code runs more than fast enough for most applications.
  • Runs everywhere. Python is available for all major operating systems: Windows, Linux/Unix, OS/2, Mac, Amiga, among others.
  • Easily integrated. Python can integrate with .COM, .NET, and .CORBA objects. There are implementation of Python for Java libraries and for .NET objects. Python is also supported for the Internet Communications Engine (ICE) and for many other integration technologies.
  • Clear & readable syntax. That is why Python is friendly and easy to learn. Python developer and user community maintains a wiki, hosts international and local conferences, runs development sprints, and contributes to online code repositories.
  • Freely usable and distributable. The Python implementation is under an open source license that makes it freely usable. Python is free to use, even for commercial products, because of its OSI-approved open source license.

Historical Background

Python was created in the early 1990s by Guido van Rossum at Stichting Mathematisch Centrum in the Netherlands as a successor of a language called ABC. Guido remains Python’s principal author, although it includes many contributions from others. In 1995, Guido continued his work on Python at the Corporation for National Research Initiatives in Reston, Virginia where he released several versions of the software.

In May 2000, Guido and the Python core development team moved to BeOpen.com to form the BeOpen PythonLabs team. In October of the same year, the PythonLabs team moved to Digital Creations. In 2001, the Python Software Foundation was formed, a non-profit organization created specifically to own Python-related Intellectual Property. Zope Corporation is a sponsoring member of the PSF.

Python software

Python is one of the powerful dynamic programming languages, which is widely used for developing various web systems, including:

  • Plone CMS - open source Content Management System
  • Python e-Commerce Systems - technical comparison of Python-based e-commerce systems: PloneGetPaid, EasyShop, Lightning Fast Shop, Satchmo, Perfect Sale, Catridge
  • Python at Google - Python as an official language at Google. Python usage on Google various applications.
  • Python IDE - overview of the top open source integrated environments for Python application development: PyDev, PyScripter, SPYDER, Eric, Komodo, SPE, Wing
  • Python Unit Testing - find out how to run Python unit tests with Python unittest, doctest and nose frameworks, learn the best practices and techniques to perform unit testing on your Python applications
  • Sphinx- flexible and extensible documentation framework, written in Python
  • Pinax - Django-based platform for rapid website development
  • Mezzanine - CMS for blogging
  • Flask - flexible and extensible micro framework
  • Robot Framework - keyword-driven framework for test automation
  • Mayan EDMS - software for managing electronic documents
  • Armstrong- Django-based platform for publishing news
  • Tornado - powerful Python-based web server
  • Python Web Development with Django web framework
  • KARL - web-based open source system for managing your knowledge
  • TurboGears - next generation Python web application framework
  • web2py - a scalable open source Python-based web application framework
  • Twisted - asynchronous event-driven engine for network application development
  • PyPy - innovative Python implementation that interprets itself
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