Python Overview
Python is a high-level, interpreted, interactive
and object-oriented scripting language. Python was designed to be highly readable which
uses English keywords frequently where as other languages use punctuation and
it has fewer syntactical constructions than other languages.
v Python is Interpreted: This means that it is
processed at runtime by the interpreter and you do not need to compile
your program before executing it. This is similar to PERL and PHP.
v Python is Interactive: This means that you can
actually sit at a Python prompt and interact with the interpreter
directly to write your programs.
v Python is Object-Oriented: This means that Python
supports Object-Oriented style or technique of programming that
encapsulates code within objects.
v Python is Beginner's
Language: Python
is a great language for the beginner programmers and supports the
development of a wide range of applications from simple text processing to WWW
browsers to games.
History of Python:
Python was developed by Guido
van Rossum in the late eighties and early nineties at the National Research
Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science in the Netherlands.
Python is derived from many
other languages, including ABC, Modula-3, C, C++, Algol-68, SmallTalk and Unix
shell and other scripting languages.
Python is copyrighted. Like
Perl, Python source code is now available under the GNU General Public License
(GPL).
Python is now maintained by a
core development team at the institute, although Guido van Rossum still holds a
vital role in directing its progress.
Getting Python:
The
most up-to-date and current source code, binaries, documentation, news, etc. is
available at the official website of Python:
Python Official Website : http://www.python.org/
You
can download Python documentation from the following site. The documentation is
available in HTML, PDF and PostScript formats.
Python Documentation Website
: www.python.org/doc/
Install Python:
Python
distribution is available for a wide variety of platforms. You need to download
only the binary code applicable for your platform and install Python.
If
the binary code for your platform is not available, you need a C compiler to
compile the source code manually. Compiling the source code offers more flexibility
in terms of choice of features that you require in your installation.
Here is a quick overview of installing Python
on various platforms:
Unix & Linux Installation:
Here are the simple steps to install Python on
Unix/Linux machine.
Ø
Open a Web browser and go to http://www.python.org/download/
Ø
Follow the link to download
zipped source code available for Unix/Linux.
Ø
Download and extract files.
Ø
Editing the Modules/Setup
file if you want to customize some options.
Ø
run
./configure script
Ø
make
Ø
make install
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