Introduction to Python Programming

Python is a General-Purpose Programming Language or rather a Scripting Language. It was developed in 1990s by a person named Guido Van Rossum.

Features of Python

1. Cross-Compiled i.e., Platform Independent or Portable
2. Interpreted
3. High-level Scripting Language
4. Open Source
5. Supports Object Oriented Features

Python is an interpreted and a cross-compiled programming language. It is actually a Scripting Language rather than a Programming Language. A Scripting language is basically used in combination with HTML code usually for a Website Development. Python code is comparatively very less than that of Java, C or C++. Python is one of the few languages which supports Procedural Programming features and Object Oriented Programming in a single program.

Applications of Python

1. Web Application Development and Web Frameworks such as DJango and Pyramid.
2. Game Development
3. Desktop Based Applications
4. Micro Frameworks such as Bottle and Flask

Python is a Free and an Open-Source Language. It is one of the most demanded languages all over the world as of now and has a huge career scope. So, you better learn it with us.

Python is available in Windows Operating Systems, Linux Versions such as Ubuntu, OpenSuse, etc. Python can also be worked upon in Mac OS.

Installing Python

The following are the ways to install Python on different platforms.

Windows

You can either use an IDE for Python programming or use a Command Line Tool. Python’s latest version is Python 3.4.3. Visit the following link and select the version to download it. https://www.python.org/downloads/

You also get an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) available for Python programming. One of the best IDEs available in the market is JetBrains PyCharm Edition. It provides an Editor, in-built Interpreter and many other features such as Web Development, Django Frameworks Development. It is a freeware or a Free Edition. You can download the Community Edition (Free) using the following link.
https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/download/

Linux

Linux, specifically Ubuntu Distribution comes pre-installed with Python Interpreter. So, it has a pre-installed Python programming Command Line Tool. In order to check whether your system has Python installed on it, open the Terminal and type below command.

python –version

This command will display the version of Python installed on your machine.

However, if you need an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Python, you can download the JetBrains PyCharm package from the following link and install it. To download the PyCharm Free Edition, visit the following link and select Linux OS.
 https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/download/

Follow the steps below to Install Python in Ubuntu (Linux)

1. Copy the file with .tar.gz extension into a location folder. It should be an Empty Directory. This folder will be the location where the Python software will be installed.

2. Unpack (or Extract) the file using the following command from the Ubuntu Terminal.
tar xfz filename.tar.gz

3. Now, execute the PyCharm.sh from the Bin Directory.

Mac OS X

To use Python in Mac OS, you need an Integrated Development Environment such as JetBrains PyCharm Community Edition which is a Freeware. You can also opt for its Professional Edition which is free for 30 Days Evaluation Period. To download it for Mac OS, visit the following link and select your Operating System.
https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/download/

Download the PyCharm file and Mount it as another disk in your system. Now copy the PyCharm file into your Applications Folder and you’re ready to run Python.