What is Python?
Python is one of the most popular programming languages used today, and there are many reasons why. Python is a beautiful language that acts as a general-purpose coding language; this implies that unlike HTML/CSS/JavaScript, you can utilize Python for other types of programming and software developments.
For those that may be wondering, Python was named after Monty Python.
What can I use Python for?
There are a TON of things you can use Python for, some of those things include (but not limited to):
Web Development/Developing Web Applications
Python is one of the most straightforward programming dialects, and we imply that positively.
As indicated by this extraordinary Medium article, “Python, unlike other programming languages, emphasizes code readability, and allows you to use English keywords instead of punctuation…The readable and clean code base will help you to maintain and update the software without putting extra time and effort.”
You can literally find Python used all over the place. Sites like NASA, Reddit and PBS utilize Python for their websites.
Since Python has pre-assembled libraries and web structures including Pyramid, Django, and Flask, it’s particularly incredible for utilizing on back end web improvement ventures, shortening the measure of time you spend on undertakings by permitting you to repurpose lumps of code.
Data Science and Scientific Computing
In regard to Python being utilized in the field of scientific research and computation, it is used quite abundantly. Python’s function in parsing information is certainly one incredible preferred position of learning it. On account of the evident ascent of information science, odds are that increasingly more tech jobs will spin around it—and you’ll as of now have one of the main dialects in your toolbox. For those that may be wondering, Data Science is a field that is heavily surging; Data Scientists are reported as one of the fastest growing careers and a career route many should consider.
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence are one of the most talked-about topics in the tech industry. You may have heard of IBM Watson. IBM Watson offers its resources to utilize as a way of doing machine learning to achieve a certain task. One could potentially use their libraries to do speech recognition or possibly create a chatbot. Machine learning (one could argue it falls under Data Science) is quite awesome. There are a ton of applications you can do for machine learning, and you may have witnessed some of it in action. An example may be if you utilize a streaming service (such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime) or use a social media application (such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram), and you will notice that a lot of the content presented to you are things that are relevant to your search and browsing interactions/history; the more you utilize an application of machine learning, the more you end up training it to make it much more accurate.
Game Development
Python is likewise utilized in the improvement of intuitive games. There are libraries, for example, PySoy which is a 3D game motor supporting Python 3, PyGame which gives usefulness and a library to game turn of events. Games, for example, Civilization-IV was assembled by utilizing Python.
Embedded Applications
For those that may not know, Python is actually based on C; this implies that it could be utilized to develop Embedded C software for embedded applications. Essentially, what this means is that we can do higher-level applications on small devices, that could compute Python. Out of all the embedded applications, the most profound one is Raspberry Pi. One could use it as a computer to perform a high-level computation.
Hacking
As someone who is, personally, invested into the realm of cybersecurity, hacking is a big deal. Since Python is a vastly used general-purpose and high-level programming language, it is quite the tool for a hacker. Python is open-source and object-oriented (with excellent libraries), which means that this can be used for hacking (and other things).
Since Python is so widely used by hackers, there is a host of different attack vectors to take into consideration. Python requires minimal coding skills, making it easy to write a script and exploit a vulnerability. Essentially, Python is heralded as the go-to programing language for hacking.
Why should I use Python?
There are several reasons why you may want to utilize Python.
Readable and Maintainable Code
While composing a product application, you should zero in on the nature of its source code to disentangle upkeep and updates. The punctuation rules of Python permit you to communicate ideas without composing extra code. Simultaneously, Python, in contrast to other programming dialects, stresses on code coherence, and permits you to utilize English watchwords rather than accentuations. Subsequently, you can utilize Python to assemble custom applications without composing extra code. The lucid and clean code base will assist you with keeping up and update the product without investing additional time and energy.
Multiple Programming Paradigms
Like other current programming dialects, Python likewise bolsters a few programming worldview. It upholds object situated and organized programming completely. Additionally, its language highlights uphold different ideas in utilitarian and viewpoint situated programming. Simultaneously, Python likewise includes a unique sort framework and programmed memory the board. The programming ideal models and language highlights assist you with utilizing Python for growing huge and complex programming applications.
Compatible with Major Platforms and Systems
As of now, Python is underpins many working frameworks. You can even utilize Python mediators to run the code on explicit stages and apparatuses. Likewise, Python is a deciphered programming language. It permits you to you to run similar code on different stages without recompilation. Consequently, you are not needed to recompile the code subsequent to making any change. You can run the adjusted application code without recompiling and check the effect of changes made to the code right away. The component makes it simpler for you to make changes to the code without expanding improvement time.
Robust Standard Library
Its enormous and vigorous standard library makes Python score over other programming dialects. The standard library permits you to browse a wide scope of modules as per your exact requirements. Every module further empowers you to add usefulness to the Python application without composing extra code. For example, while composing a web application in Python, you can utilize explicit modules to execute web administrations, perform string tasks, oversee working framework interface or work with web conventions. You can even assemble data about different modules by perusing the Python Standard Library documentation.
Many Open Source Frameworks and Tools
As an open source programming language, Python encourages you to reduce programming improvement cost altogether. You can even utilize a few open source Python systems, libraries and advancement instruments to reduce improvement time without expanding improvement cost. You even have choice to look over a wide scope of open source Python structures and advancement apparatuses as indicated by your exact necessities. For example, you can rearrange and speedup web application improvement by utilizing strong Python web systems like Django, Flask, Pyramid, Bottle and Cherrypy. In like manner, you can quicken work area GUI application improvement utilizing Python GUI systems and toolboxs like PyQT, PyJs, PyGUI, Kivy, PyGTK and WxPython.
Simplify Complex Software Developments
Python is a universally useful programming language. Subsequently, you can utilize the programming language for creating both work area and web applications. Additionally, you can utilize Python for creating complex logical and numeric applications. Python is planned with highlights to encourage information investigation and perception. You can exploit the information examination highlights of Python to make custom large information arrangements without investing additional time and energy. Simultaneously, the information representation libraries and APIs gave by Python assist you with picturing and present information in an all the more engaging and compelling manner. Numerous Python designers even use Python to achieve artificial intelligence (AI) and regular language preparing undertakings.
Adopt Test Driven Development
You can utilize Python to make model of the product application quickly. Likewise, you can assemble the product application straightforwardly from the model just by refactoring the Python code. Python even makes it simpler for you to perform coding and testing all the while by receiving test driven development (TDD) approach. You can undoubtedly compose the necessary tests prior to composing code and utilize the tests to survey the application code persistently. The tests can likewise be utilized for checking if the application meets predefined prerequisites dependent on its source code.
Python Documentation
As of now, Python currently is on version 3.9.1 (3.10 is currently in development). Before utilizing any new language or software, one should consider looking into the documentation and libraries provided by the developers to help ensure that all probable questions could be self-answered and learning can be made easier by having an accessible reference.
Click to access the official Python 3.9.1 documentation.
Python Installation
Fortunately, many PCs and Macs have Python already installed. To check, you may do the following:
For Windows, open the Command Line (cmd.exe), and enter the following:
C:\Users\Your Name>python --version
For Linux or Mac, you want to open the command line (Linux) or Terminal (Mac) and enter:
python --version
If you do not have Python installed, do not fear, you may download it for free from Python’s main website.
Recommended Python IDE’s
For Python, there are many Python Integrated Development Environment Software (IDE) to utilize. The few that I recommend (you do not have to use) are:
- PyCharm
- PyCharm is an IDE for proficient designers. It is made by JetBrains, an organization known for making extraordinary programming improvement instruments. There are two variants of PyCharm: Community (free open-source rendition, lightweight, useful for Python and logical turn of events) and Proficient (paid form, full-highlighted IDE with help for Web improvement too). PyCharm gives all significant highlights that a decent IDE ought to give: code culmination, code assessments, blunder featuring and fixes, investigating, variant control framework and code refactoring. Every one of these highlights emerge from the container. The lone significant grumbling I have found out about PyCharm is that it’s asset concentrated. On the off chance that you have a PC with a limited quantity of RAM (typically under 4 GB), your PC may slack.
- IDLE
- When you install Python, IDLE is also installed by default. This makes it easy to get started in Python. Its major features include the Python shell window(interactive interpreter), auto-completion, syntax highlighting, smart indentation, and a basic integrated debugger. IDLE is a decent IDE for learning as it’s lightweight and simple to use. However, it’s not for optimum for larger projects.
- Sublime Text
- Great Text is a mainstream code manager that upholds numerous dialects including Python. It’s quick, exceptionally adjustable and has an enormous network. It has essential implicit help for Python when you introduce it. Be that as it may, you can introduce bundles, for example, investigating, auto-fruition, code linting, and so on There are additionally different bundles for logical turn of events, Django, Flask, etc. Essentially, you can redo Sublime content to establish an undeniable Python improvement climate according to your need. You can download and utilize assess Sublime content for an inconclusive timeframe. Be that as it may, you will incidentally get a spring up expressing “you need to buy a permit for proceeded with use”.
- Atom
- Atom is an open-source code manager created by Github that can be utilized for Python improvement (comparable Sublime content). Its highlights are additionally like Sublime Text. Atom is profoundly adjustable. You can introduce bundles according to your need. A portion of the regularly utilized bundles in Atom for Python advancement are autocomplete-python, linter-flake8, python-debugger, and so forth
- Visual Studio Code
- Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a free and open-source IDE made by Microsoft that can be utilized for Python improvement. You can add augmentations to establish a Python advancement climate according to your need in VS code. It gives highlights, for example, insightful code culmination, linting for possible mistakes, investigating, unit testing, etc. Versus Code is lightweight and pressed with incredible highlights. This is the motivation behind why it getting mainstream among Python designers.
- Jupyter Notebook
- Jupyter is a pretty neat open-source software that enables you to create and share (live) code, visualizations, and more.
Your First Project using Python: Hello, World!
If you are new or seasoned as a developer, your very first project is monumental as it is the spark to inspire many other projects to come. As tradition goes, we will do a classic “Hello World!”
You first want to create a new Python file (make sure the file type is .py). From there, you want to enter the following code that is, literally, straightforward:
print("Hello, World!")After you do that, you can run your file and see that the output would say:
Hello, World!Congratulations, you have created your very first project on Python: it was that easy. Later on, we will delve into much more complex topics for Python (and other languages and skills).
The next post will go over the basic fundamentals of Python, such as syntax.
For more information
If you seek to learn more about Python, please visit Python’s official documentation.
Michael is an Information Technology consultant, with a focus on cybersecurity. Every day, Michael strives to learn something new, with an aim to share it with you all!
