Python Programming: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

Introduction

  • Python is a high-level programming language that can be used for many different purposes.
  • It was created by Guido van Rossum in 1989 while he was working at the National Research Institute in the Netherlands.
  • Python became officially available to the public on February 20th, 1991, which is considered its "birthday."
  • Python is often recommended as the first programming language for beginners because it’s easy to learn and understand.

Origin of Python's Name

The name "Python" was inspired by the British TV show Monty Python's Flying Circus, which aired on the BBC from 1969 to 1974.

Development of Python

Guido van Rossum created Python by incorporating various programming features from other languages:

  1. Functional programming features from C.
  2. Object-oriented programming concepts from C++.
  3. Scripting language elements from Perl and Shell scripting.
  4. Modular programming ideas from Modula-3.

Much of Python's syntax is influenced by both the C language and the ABC programming language.

Why Python?

  • Python works on many different devices like Windows computers, Macs, Linux systems, and even Raspberry Pi.
  • Its rules for writing code are simple and look a lot like regular English, making it easier to learn.
  • Python allows you to write less code compared to other programming languages, which makes it faster to get things done.
  • Python runs code as you write it, so you can test things out quickly without waiting.
  • You can use Python in different ways: to write step-by-step instructions (procedural), to work with objects and classes (object-oriented), or to use functions (functional programming).

Python Versions

  • Python 1.0 was released in January 1994.
  • Python 2.0 came out in October 2000.
  • Python 3.0 was introduced in December 2008.

Note: Python 3 is not backward compatible with Python 2, meaning that programs written in Python 2 might not work in Python 3 without changes.