Introduction to Python

INTRODUCTION TO PYTHON:

Python is a general-purpose interpreted, interactive, object-oriented, and high-level programming language.

It was created by Guido van Rossum during 1985- 1990.

Python got its name from “Monty Python’s flying circus”. Python was released in the year 2000.

v   Python is interpreted: Python is processed at runtime by the interpreter. You do not need to compile your program before executing it.

v   Python is Interactive: You can actually sit at a Python prompt and interact with the interpreter directly to write your programs.

v   Python is Object-Oriented: Python supports Object-Oriented style or technique of programming that encapsulates code within objects.

v   Python is a Beginner's Language: Python is a great language for the beginner- level programmers and supports the development of a wide range of applications.

Python Features:

v Easy-to-learn: Python is clearly defined and easily readable. The structure of the program is very simple. It uses few keywords.

v   Easy-to-maintain: Python's source code is fairly easy-to-maintain.

v   Portable: Python can run on a wide variety of hardware platforms and has the same interface on all platforms.

v   Interpreted: Python is processed at runtime by the interpreter. So, there is no need to compile a program before executing it. You can simply run the program.

v   Extensible: Programmers can embed python within their C,C++,Java script ,ActiveX, etc.

v   Free and Open Source: Anyone can freely distribute it, read the source code, and edit it.

v   High Level Language: When writing programs, programmers concentrate on solutions of the current problem, no need to worry about the low level details.

v   Scalable: Python provides a better structure and support for large programs than shell scripting.

Applications

v   Bit Torrent file sharing

v   Google search engine, Youtube

v   Intel, Cisco, HP, IBM

v   i–Robot

v   NASA

v   Facebook, Drop box

Python interpreter:

Interpreter: To execute a program in a high-level language by translating it one line at a time.

Compiler: To translate a program written in a high-level language into a low-level language all at once, in preparation for later execution.

MODES OF PYTHON INTERPRETER:

Python Interpreter is a program that reads and executes Python code. It uses 2 modes of Execution.

1.              Interactive mode

2.              Script mode

1. Interactive mode:

v   Interactive Mode, as the name suggests, allows us to interact with OS.

v   When we type Python statement, interpreter displays the result(s) immediately.

Advantages:

v   Python, in interactive mode, is good enough to learn, experiment or explore.

v   Working in interactive mode is convenient for beginners and for testing small pieces of code.

Drawback:

v   We cannot save the statements and have to retype all the statements once again to re-run them.

In interactive mode, you type Python programs and the interpreter displays the result:

>>>     1 + 1

2

The chevron, >>>, is the prompt the interpreter uses to indicate that it is ready for you to enter code. If you type 1 + 1, the interpreter replies 2.

>>>     print ('Hello, World!')

Hello, World!

This is an example of a print statement. It displays a result on the screen. In this case, the result is the words.

2. Script mode:

v   In script mode, we type python program in a file and then use interpreter to execute the content of the file.

v   Scripts can be saved to disk for future use. Python scripts have the extension .py, meaning that the filename ends with .py

v   Save the code with filename.py and run the interpreter in script mode to execute the script.

Integrated Development Learning Environment (IDLE):

v   Is a graphical user interface which is completely written in Python.

v   It is bundled with the default implementation of the python language and also comes with optional part of the Python packaging.

Features of IDLE:

Multi-window text editor with syntax highlighting.

v   Auto completion with smart indentation.

Python shell to display output with syntax highlighting.