Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language that was first released in 1991.
It was created by Guido van Rossum, and it has since become one of the most popular programming languages in the world.
Python is known for its simplicity and readability, which makes it an excellent language for beginners to learn. It has a large standard library and a thriving ecosystem of third-party libraries and tools, which makes it useful for a wide range of applications, including web development, data analysis, scientific computing, artificial intelligence, and more.
One of the key features of Python is its use of indentation to delimit blocks of code, rather than using curly braces or other similar syntax. This helps to make the code more readable and easier to understand.
Python is an interpreted language, which means that code is executed directly by the interpreter, rather than being compiled into machine code. This can make it slower than compiled languages like C or C++, but it also makes it more flexible and easier to work with.
Overall, Python is a powerful and versatile language that is widely used in many different industries and fields.
Where Python is best suited and widely used??
Python is a versatile language that can be used in a wide variety of applications. Here are some of the areas where Python is best suited and widely used:
Web Development: Python is a popular choice for building web applications, especially with the Django and Flask web frameworks. These frameworks provide a lot of useful features and libraries that make it easy to build complex web applications quickly and efficiently.
Data Science and Machine Learning: Python is widely used in data science and machine learning applications, thanks to the availability of powerful libraries like NumPy, Pandas, and Scikit-learn. These libraries provide a lot of tools for data manipulation, analysis, and modeling, making Python a popular choice for data scientists and machine learning engineers.
Scientific Computing: Python is also widely used in scientific computing applications, thanks to libraries like SciPy, Matplotlib, and IPython. These libraries provide a lot of useful tools for scientific computing, such as numerical integration, optimization, and plotting.
Automation and Scripting: Python is a great language for automation and scripting tasks, thanks to its simplicity and ease of use. It's often used for tasks like web scraping, file processing, and system administration.
Education: Python is widely used in education as a first programming language, thanks to its ease of use and simplicity. Many universities and schools now teach Python as part of their computer science curriculum.
Overall, Python is a versatile language that can be used in a wide variety of applications, making it a popular choice for developers across many industries and fields.
How long will it take to learn python ??
The amount of time it takes to learn Python can vary depending on several factors, such as your previous programming experience, the amount of time you can dedicate to learning, and the level of proficiency you want to achieve. However, here are some general guidelines:
Basic proficiency: If you want to learn the basics of Python and be able to write simple scripts and programs, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months of consistent practice.
Intermediate proficiency: If you want to be able to write more complex programs and use Python for data analysis or web development, it can take several months to a year of consistent practice.
Advanced proficiency: If you want to become an expert in Python and be able to contribute to open source projects or develop your own libraries and frameworks, it can take several years of consistent practice and study.
Keep in mind that learning Python is an ongoing process, and even experienced programmers continue to learn new things about the language and its ecosystem. The most important thing is to start practicing and learning consistently, and to focus on building projects and solving problems to reinforce your knowledge.
Basics of python
Here are some of the basics of Python programming language:
Syntax: Python has a very clean and simple syntax, with easy-to-read code that is free of semicolons and braces. Python uses indentation to define blocks of code.
Variables: In Python, variables are used to store values. Unlike other programming languages, variables do not need to be declared with a specific data type.
Data Types: Python has several built-in data types, including strings, integers, floating-point numbers, and booleans. It also supports more complex data types such as lists, dictionaries, and tuples.
Control Structures: Python has several control structures, including if/else statements, loops (for and while), and try/except blocks for handling errors.
Functions: Functions are used in Python to organize and reuse code. They are defined using the "def" keyword and can take arguments and return values.
Libraries and Modules: Python has a large standard library, as well as a vast ecosystem of third-party libraries and modules that can be imported into your code to provide additional functionality.
Object-Oriented Programming: Python is an object-oriented programming language, which means it supports the creation and use of objects and classes.
These are just some of the basics of Python programming. Learning the basics is essential to building a strong foundation for more advanced programming concepts in Python.
prerequisites to use Python on Windows machine
To run Python on a Windows machine, you will need to follow these prerequisites:
Install Python: The first step is to download and install the Python interpreter from the official Python website. You can choose either Python 2.x or Python 3.x, but it is recommended to use Python 3.x as it is the latest version.
Set the environment variables: Once you have installed Python, you need to set the environment variables. This will ensure that your computer knows where to find the Python interpreter. To set the environment variables, you need to follow these steps:
Right-click on "This PC" and select "Properties".
Click on "Advanced System Settings" and then "Environment Variables".
Under "System Variables", click "New" and enter "PYTHON_HOME" as the variable name and the location of the Python installation as the variable value (e.g., C:\Python39).
Edit the "Path" variable and add "%PYTHON_HOME%\Scripts" and "%PYTHON_HOME%" to the list of paths.
Install a Code Editor: To write and run Python code, you will need a code editor. Some popular options for Python include PyCharm, VS Code, and Spyder.
Optional: Install additional packages: Depending on your needs, you may need to install additional Python packages. You can do this using the pip package manager, which comes with Python. For example, if you want to use the popular data analysis library Pandas, you can install it by running the command pip install pandas in the command prompt.
Once you have completed these prerequisites, you should be ready to start writing and running Python code on your Windows machine.
Prerequisites to run python on mac machine
To run Python on a Mac machine, you will need to follow these prerequisites:
Install Xcode command-line tools: Xcode is an integrated development environment (IDE) for macOS, and the command-line tools provide a set of software development tools that enable you to build and run software on your Mac. To install the Xcode command-line tools, open the Terminal app and type the command xcode-select --install.
Install Homebrew: Homebrew is a package manager for macOS that allows you to easily install and manage software packages, including Python. To install Homebrew, open the Terminal app and type the command /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)".
Install Python: Once you have installed Homebrew, you can use it to install Python. To install Python, open the Terminal app and type the command brew install python. This will install the latest version of Python.
Optional: Install a Code Editor: To write and run Python code, you will need a code editor. Some popular options for Python include PyCharm, VS Code, and Spyder.
Optional: Install additional packages: Depending on your needs, you may need to install additional Python packages. You can do this using the pip package manager, which comes with Python. For example, if you want to use the popular data analysis library Pandas, you can install it by running the command pip install pandas in the Terminal app.
Once you have completed these prerequisites, you should be ready to start writing and running Python code on your Mac machine.
Basic program of python to say Hello World
print("Hello, World!")
To run this program, you can save it to a file with a .py extension (e.g., helloworld.py) and then run it from the command line by typing:
python helloworld.py
Top comments (3)
Yes Python is known for simplicity and readability and much more. Once I had a chance to work on it. Look forward to learn more about it in future. Thank you for this article.
I have started learning.
Plan is to post small small articles which will help others too in getting started with Python
Yes keep going..