Features of Python
1. Simple
Reading
a good Python program feels almost like reading English( very strict English). This
pseudo-code nature of Python is one of its greatest strengths. It allows you to
concentrate on the solution to the
problem rather than the language itself.
2. Easy to Learn
Python
is extremely easy to learn because Python has an extraordinarily simple syntax. Elegant syntax,
making the programs you write easier to read.
3. Free and Open Source
Python
is an example of a FLOSS (Free/Libré and Open Source Software). In
simple terms, you can freely distribute copies of this software, read it's
source code, make changes to it, use pieces of it in new free programs, and
that you know you can do these things. This is one of the reasons why Python is
so good.
4. High-level Language
When
you write programs in Python, you never need to bother about the low-level
details such as managing the memory used by your program, etc.
5. Portable
Due
to its open-source nature, Python has been ported (i.e. changed to make it work
on) to many platforms. All your Python programs can work on any of these
platforms without requiring any changes at all. You
can use Python on Linux, Windows, FreeBSD, Macintosh, Solaris, OS/2, Amiga,
AROS, AS/400, BeOS, OS/390, z/OS, Palm OS, QNX, VMS, Psion, Acorn RISC OS,
VxWorks, PlayStation, Sharp Zaurus, Windows CE and even PocketPC !
6. Interpreted
A
program written in a compiled language like C or C++ is converted from the
source language i.e. C or C++ into a language that is spoken by your computer
(binary code i.e. 0s and 1s) using a compiler with various flags and options.
When you run the program, the linker/loader software copies the program from
hard disk to memory and starts running it.
Python,
on the other hand, does not need compilation to binary. You just run the
program directly from the source code. Internally, Python converts the source
code into an intermediate form called bytecodes and then translates this into
the native language of your computer and then runs it. All this, actually,
makes using Python much easier since you don't have to worry about compiling
the program, making sure that the proper libraries are linked and loaded, etc,
etc. This also makes your Python programs much more portable, since you can
just copy your Python program onto another computer and it just works.
7. Procedure Oriented
and Object Oriented
Python
supports procedure-oriented programming as well as object-oriented programming.
In procedure-oriented languages, the program is built around
procedures or functions which are nothing but reusable pieces of programs. In object-oriented languages,
the program is built around objects which combine data and functionality.
Python has a very powerful but simplistic way of doing OOP, especially when
compared to big languages like C++ or Java.
8. Extensible
If
you need a critical piece of code to run very fast or want to have some piece
of algorithm not to be open, you can code that part of your program in C or C++
and then use them from your Python program.
9. Embeddable
You
can embed Python within your C/C++ programs to give 'scripting' capabilities
for your program's users.
10. Extensive Libraries
The
Python Standard Library is huge indeed. It can help you do various things
involving regular expressions, documentation generation, unit testing,
threading, databases, web browsers, CGI, ftp, email, XML, XML-RPC, HTML, WAV
files, cryptography, GUI (graphical user interfaces), Tk, and other
system-dependent stuff. Remember, all this is always available wherever Python
is installed. This is called the 'Batteries Included' philosophy of Python.
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