So, what is Python?
According to the official Python website, "Python is a programming language that lets you work quickly and integrate systems more effectively."
Guido van Rossum invented Python in the Netherlands in the late 1980's and implemented it in 1989. He named it Python, not after the predatory snake, but after the British comedy series Monty Python. Van Rossum serves a critical role in Python's development to this day; the Python community has granted him the title BDFL, which stands for Benevolent Dictator For Life. Python's BDFL claims that the origins of the language come from his need for a "hobby" to keep him busy during a Christmas holiday. Thus, by the genius sparked from one man's boredom and a personal computer, Python was born!
Python's powerful capabilities include applications that are excellent for web development, database access, scientific modeling, software/game development, and more.
Python's official website contains copious amounts of help for both beginners and experienced programmers. The website contains a wealth of information and resources from tutorials to code samples to help users code successfully.
Python syntax emphasizes readability, allowing programmers to use fewer lines of code than they would in other languages.
The Zen of Python summarizes the language's philosophy with statements that include: "Beautiful is better than ugly," "Simple is better than complex," "Complex is better than complicated," "There should be one--and preferably only one--obvious way to do it," and "Now is better than never."
Now is certainly a great time to start learning!
Resources:
https://www.python.org/about/
https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0020/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_(programming_language)
Please share with us the Python environment that you plan to use for this project. Let us know of any issues and workarounds that you found in installing and using it.
ReplyDeleteI am using Python version 3.6.4 and working in the the Integrated Development and Learning Environment (IDLE). When I first opened IDLE, I wasn't sure if I had everything I needed to start coding in Python. All that came up was a blank white window. Coding in this type of environment is far different from what I am used to, completely different from environments like Eclipse or Visual Studio that are full of buttons and interactive options to click on. Python's stark IDLE environment will be interesting to get used to! I will definitely keep commenting on the challenges I face.
DeleteHave you discovered any online tutorials that walk you through learning Python, outside of the official site?
ReplyDeleteI have waited to answer your question, now that I have had more experience with the language, so I apologize for the delay. In general, since Python is a rather popular and established language, there is a lot of content on YouTube as well as StackExchange. I have not been sticking to any single resource, but rather jumping around to sources that fit my needs depending on the topic. I do find that the official Python articles and tutorials are the most thorough and give excellent coding examples. One thing to watch out for is the version for which an article/tutorial addresses a topic, since there are some key differences between Python 2 and 3.
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