Today [Day 2 | August 9, 2025], I gained (some) knowledge on the definition of Python, difference…

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Day 2 [August 9, 2025]

Hi friends😊.

Today, I will continue reading the textbook (Python for Software Development by Halvorsen (n.d.)) as well as take progressive steps on "Day 1-2: Learn basic syntax, data types, and variables" (Meta AI, personal communication, August 8, 2025).

Goals:
As extracted from the 'Python for Software Development' textbook by Halvorsen (n.d.):

The New Age of Programming
What is Python?
Introduction to Python
Interpreted vs. Compiled
Python Packages
Python Packages for Science and Numerical Computations
Python Editors
Python IDLE
Visual Studio Code
Variables
Numbers
Strings
String Input
Built-in Functions
Python Standard Library
Using Python Libraries, Packages and Modules
Python Packages
Plotting in Python
Subplots
Exercises

Notes:
What is Python?
Python, according to Halvorsen (n.d.), is defined as "an interpreted, high-level, general-purpose programming language."

I gained some knowledge on the difference between Interpreted and Compiled Programming Languages here (freeCodeCamp, 2020). In short, for Compiled Languages, human-readable code are converted directly to machine-readable code using a Compiler, while for Interpreted Languages, an Interpreter is necessary. "Directly" here implies the target machine itself does the conversion (Self Compiler), unlike Interpreted Languages where the target machine doesn't (freeCodeCamp, 2020; geeksforgeeks, 2025). A Compiler converts the code prior to execution, while the Interpreter converts the code during execution, line by line (freeCodeCamp, 2020; geeksforgeeks, 2025). However there are other types of Compilers with some possessing the ability to convert the code during execution [Just-in-Time (JIT) Compiler], another type has the Compiler in a machine other than the target machine (Cross Compiler), etc. (geeksforgeeks, 2025).

Read about the Compiler here (geeksforgeeks, 2025).

As at the time of writing his book, Halvorsen pointed out that Python was not the best or most effective Programming Language for developing Mobile Applications (Halvorsen, n.d.) - pointing out that it is suited for Web applications, Enterprise applications and Embedded applications (Cass, 2018, as cited in Halvorsen, n.d.). While his statement relatively still holds true, however, with recent developments, Python can offer a good counter-argument in finding use as a Mobile Applications Development platform, particularly with the development of GUI Frameworks like Kivy and BeeWare (by itself, Python is not ideal) (Almeida, 2025). Read more about Mobile Applications Development with Python here (Almeida, 2025). Python became a popular platform for Mobile Application development as a result of its simplicity and readability of code, particularly for small business owners and beginner programmers (Almeida, 2025).

I should add these to tomorrow's Goals:

What is a High Level Language?
What are Enterprise and Embedded applications?

Summary:
Today, I gained (some) knowledge on the definition of Python, the difference between Interpreted and Compiled Programming Languages, and Mobile Application development with Python.

Tomorrow, I should make progress on today's remaining goals and begin learning on
"Day 3-4: Control structures (if-else, loops)" (Meta AI, personal communication, August 8, 2025).

References: