Python en:Introduction
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system-dependent features.
You can use Python on Linux, Windows, FreeBSD, Macintosh, Solaris, OS/2, Amiga,
AROS, AS/400, BeOS, OS/390, z/OS, Palm OS, QNX, VMS, Psion, Acorn RISC OS,
VxWorks, PlayStation, Sharp Zaurus, Windows CE and even PocketPC !
Interpreted
This requires a bit of explanation.
A program written in a compiled language like C or C++ is converted from the source
language i.e. C or C++ into a language that is spoken by your computer (binary code
i.e. 0s and 1s) using a compiler with various flags and options. When you run the
program, the linker/loader software copies the program from hard disk to memory and
starts running it.
Python, on the other hand, does not need compilation to binary. You just run the
program directly from the source code. Internally, Python converts the source code
into an intermediate form called bytecodes and then translates this into the native
language of your computer and then runs it. All this, actually, makes using Python
much easier since you don't have to worry about compiling the program, making sure
that the proper libraries are linked and loaded, etc, etc. This also makes your Python
programs much more portable, since you can just copy your Python program onto
another computer and it just works!
Object Oriented
Python supports procedure-oriented programming as well as object-oriented
programming. In procedure-oriented languages, the program is built around
procedures or functions which are nothing but reusable pieces of programs. In
object-oriented languages, the program is built around objects which combine data
and functionality. Python has a very powerful but simplistic way of doing OOP,
especially when compared to big languages like C++ or Java.
Extensible
If you need a critical piece of code to run very fast or want to have some piece of
algorithm not to be open, you can code that part of your program in C or C++ and
then use it from your Python program.
Embeddable
You can embed Python within your C/C++ programs to give 'scripting' capabilities for
your program's users.
Extensive Libraries
The Python Standard Library is huge indeed. It can help you do various things
involving regular expressions, documentation generation, unit testing, threading,
databases, web browsers, CGI, FTP, email, XML, XML-RPC, HTML, WAV files,
cryptography, GUI (graphical user interfaces), Tk, and other system-dependent stuff.
Remember, all this is always available wherever Python is installed. This is called the
'Batteries Included' philosophy of Python.
Besides, the standard library, there are various other high-quality libraries such as
wxPython (http:/ / www. wxpython. org) , Twisted (http:/ / www. twistedmatrix. com/
products/ twisted), Python Imaging Library (http:/ / www. pythonware. com/ products/
pil/ index. htm) and many more.