Python 101 - Introduction to Python - Part 1

Python is a high-level general purpose programming language. Because code is automatically compiled to byte code and executed, Python is suitable for use as a scripting language, Web application implementation language, etc. Because Python can be extended in C and C++, Python can provide the speed needed for even compute intensive tasks.

Important Features of Python 

• Built-in high level data types: strings, lists, dictionaries, etc.  
• The usual control structures: if, if-else, if-elif-else, while, plus a powerful collection iterator (for).  
• Multiple levels of organizational structure: functions, classes, modules, and packages. These assist in organizing code. An excellent and large example is the Python standard library.  
• Compile on the fly to byte code -- Source code is compiled to byte code without a separate compile step. Source code modules can also be "pre-compiled" to byte code files.  
• Extensions in C and C++ -- Extension modules and extension types can be written by hand. There are also tools that help with this, for example, SWIG, sip, Pyrex.  

Some things you will need to know:  

• Python uses indentation to show block structure. Indent one level to show the beginning of a block. Out-dent one level to show the end of a block. As an example, the following C-style code:
  
  
  if (x)
      {
          if (y)
          {
              f1()
          }
          f2()
      }

in Python would be:

And, the convention is to use four spaces (and no tabs) for each level of indentation.

Where to go for Additional Help? 

• The standard Python documentation set -- It contains a tutorial, a language reference, the standard library reference, and documents on extending Python in C/C++.  
• Other Python tutorials -- See especially:  
  • Python introductions  
  • Python for beginners  
• Other Python resources -- See especially:  
  • Python documentation
  • the Python home Web site  
  • The whole Python FAQ