If you have been immersing yourself in the world of software development, you would have already heard about Python. It is one of the languages that is frequently used in various technologies across industries, along with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Considering its name, one would connect the programming language to the large reptile. But many choose not to avoid Python; rather, they embrace it. It is portable, generally easy to learn, and compatible with various operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Python is a language perfect for quick and increased productivity, which is why thousands of programmers prefer it. It is employed in various domains, from web application backends to artificial intelligence systems. It makes software development possible and more manageable.
THE PYTHON BITE
Free and open-source, Python effectively merges systems and data. Its syntax allows seamless integration. It supports hundreds of thousands of modules and packages, having quite a robust library.
It is used for different purposes. For instance:
- Intel tests and analyzes microchips with it.
- Video games are created with it.
- The Google search engine was implemented in it.
- Social media platforms (ex. Instagram, YouTube, Netflix) are powered by it.
Python has a clean and simple syntax and grammatical structure. It is an object-oriented programming (OOP) language, or…
“...a computer programming model that organizes software design around data, or objects, rather than functions and logic. An object can be defined as a data field that has unique attributes and behavior.” (TechTarget.com).
The language is great for both computer programming beginners and professionals. It’s no wonder, it’s still the current most highly-recommended programming language.
RELEASE THE PYTHON!
Contrary to what many people probably believe, Python was not named after the snake. Python was created in the late ‘80s by the Dutch principal author Guido van Rossum, whose favorite comedy group at the time was Monty Python's Flying Circus. It was that simple.
Python Easy as ABC
The precursor and design influence was ABC, another general-purpose language. ABC was developed at the Centrum voor Wiskunde en Informatica (CWI), where van Rossum was working (from 1989 to 1994) on the distributed OS called Amoeba. He was frustrated with ABC; therefore, he designed an upgraded version of it, got rid of the problems usually encountered, and called it Python.
The implementation was in December 1989. Python 1.0 was released four years later, carrying new features. New versions came out in the years that followed. After five years, Version 2.0 was released. Like what we’d expect, it was more developed with even more new features.
Van Rossum was already working at the Corporation for National Research Initiatives (CNRI) (from 1995 to 2000) when he launched the Computer Programming for Everybody (CP4E) initiative. The cause: Make programming accessible to more people. Python was suitable for this. Unfortunately, funding for the project was not enough. CP4E was eventually put aside and is currently inactive.
Python.org has listed down each Python version and the date releases. The versions are generally GNU GPL-compatible. GNU (pronounced guh-noo) is a free-software OS. Meanwhile, GPL stands for General Public License.
Jumping Python
Python’s core software development team has moved from one place to another several times through the years.
2000 They moved to BeOpen.com, a startup company, in May 2000. Van Rossum became director of the new BeOpen PythonLabs team.
2000 - 2003 Following the release of Python 2.0, the team joined Digital Creations, now Zope Corporation.
Zope helped sponsor the new non-profit organization Python Software Foundation (PSF), which was created to have and keep intellectual property rights over any Python-related stuff.
2003 - 2018 PSF changed to Python Software Foundation License. Van Rossum became the BDFL–Benevolent Dictator for Life. So he was still leading the team.until July 2018, when he stepped down.from being the BDFL.
2018 - Present The model is now community-driven. Control over development transitions has been delegated to a Steering Council. It has five members that have been elected by core developers.
THE ZEN OF PYTHON
“Zen.” An approach that emphasizes simplicity and intuition. This is basically the approach that Python takes.
“Long-time Pythoneer Tim Peters succinctly channels the BDFL’s guiding principles for Python's design into 20 aphorisms, only 19 of which have been written down.”
The document is formally known as PEP 20 (Python Enhancement Proposal 20). The 20th place was for the 20th principle that was intentionally left for van Rossum to fill in. However, it has remained empty.
PEP 20 a.k.a. The Zen of Python (verbatim)
- Beautiful is better than ugly.
- Explicit is better than implicit.
- Simple is better than complex.
- Complex is better than complicated.
- Flat is better than nested.
- Sparse is better than dense.
- Readability counts.
- Special cases aren't special enough to break the rules.
- Although practicality beats purity.
- Errors should never pass silently.
- Unless explicitly silenced.
- In the face of ambiguity, refuse the temptation to guess.
- There should be one -- and preferably only one -- obvious way to do it.
- Although that way may not be obvious at first unless you're Dutch.
- Now is better than never.
- Although never is often better than *right* now.
- If the implementation is hard to explain, it's a bad idea.
- If the implementation is easy to explain, it may be a good idea.
- Namespaces are one honking great idea -- let's do more of those!
PYTHON-OLOGY
A lot of programmers prefer Python for its power and clarity. On their site, the Python organization shares their view:
“Often, programmers fall in love with Python because of the increased productivity it provides. Since there is no compilation step, the edit-test-debug cycle is incredibly fast...a bug or bad input will never cause a segmentation fault...The debugger is written in Python itself, testifying to Python's introspective power…the fast edit-test-debug cycle makes this simple approach very effective.”
This excellent programming language already emphasizes the advantages or benefits of its use. It’s extremely beneficial especially to experienced programmers working on software development.
Python’s Features
What exactly do developers and programmers like about Python? Below are Python’s basic and programming language features:
- Elegant syntax
- Easy-to-use language (ideal for prototype development, ad-hoc programming tasks)
- Large standard library
- Interactive mode for code-testing
- Default, built-in Integrated Development and Learning Environment (IDLE)
- Easy extension capabilities by adding new modules implemented in a compiled language
- Code can be grouped into modules and packages
- Embedding capabilities (embed into application for programmable interface)
- Compatibility: it runs anywhere (ex. Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, Unix)
- Strong and dynamic data types: numbers, strings, lists, dictionaries
- OOP support with classes and multiple inheritance
- Support for raising and catching exceptions
- Advanced programming features (ex. generators, list comprehensions)
- Automatic memory management
- Free software -- no-cost use, download, inclusion in application, modification, redistribution
As explained, programmers use Python in software development extensively due to its versatility, simple syntax, and vast ecosystem of libraries and frameworks. It is very much comparable to the most popular programming languages out there. It is, in fact, considered the best. Of course, expect a few negative impressions every now and then. Nothing is perfect.
WORK WITH PYTHON
As a business working or looking to work with software development tech experts, it is relevant to have more transparency within the team. At least, get adequate understanding of the system, what developers suggest, what those are for, how those can help achieve company goals.
Learn more about coding and languages such as Python, which will very likely be utilized often. For instance, it is a popular choice for back-end web development, which is a specialized subset of software development. Python streamlines the building of scalable web apps and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). You’d do well following the examples and best practices of reputable companies.
As an aspiring STEM professional, on the other hand, it is more relevant for you to learn about the things that make new technology work. You will need to do your own research and tests to find what actual fields interest you, if they can help build your career.
Python alone can already make it possible for you to build a career around it. Thousands of Python jobs are available. It is currently the most favored programming language used by data scientists. Salaries range from five- to six-figures. It’s lucrative and could be a very satisfying career path for you.
STEM fields are not a fad. They’re the present and the future. So you can aspire to be a data scientist, software engineer, research analyst, or any other technology specialist. (Incidentally, they mostly use Python.)
GOT BITTEN BY A PYTHON YET?
Python may or may not be for you. But if you’re doing or working in software development, it would be best to try out the many options available, starting with the highly-preferred ones like it. Orient yourself very well with the language and learn it.
Remember that the best time to level up your business or career is now. Get bitten by the Python. See how it feels. Chances are, you’ll be thanking your lucky stars for it.
