Python-Introduction to the Programming Language

 

Python-Introduction to the Programming Language

 

Python is a snake but we are not taking about a snake here.  We are talking about a programming language.

 

Qualities

Python is:

·         Interpreted

·         Object Oriented

·         High-level programming language.

·         Multi-Purpose Programming Language

·         Scalable

 

What is it used for?

Python is used for the following:

·         Developing Websites -backend

·         Data Analysis

·         Data Visualization

·          

 

                                            src: Kevin Stratvert

It was nice that PHP was for a long time helped with free resources and many docs.

 

History

Python was invented was conceived’ in the 1980’s by Guido Van Rossum from Netherlands. It was launched in 1990s.

 

 

 

Reason why Python’s sudden Popularity

 

Python is not a new language but suddenly it has become popular. There must be reasons (I was wondering) for which it has become popular.

 

Listed below are some advantages of Python:

·         Python has an active Community

·         Some Well-known Sponsors. – When a programming language has great sponsors, it is big advantage. Like C# is backed by Microsoft, Java was backed by Sun, etc. Python is used by Google since 2006. There are various resources created by Google for Python.

·         Python Uses Big Data- Big Data is used in cloud computing and this another reason Python is popular.

·         Great Libraries- Python has libraries that can save you time.

Python is popular with Developers and this is usually because of efficiency. This is true for any language.

Here are three main reasons why Python is popular with Developers:

·         Productivity Increased-This means you write fewer lines of code to perform an operation as compared to Java and C++.

·         Code is easy in The code easy in comparison to Java. So same job or task saves resources when done in Python.

·         IOT- Python is used in IOT or Internet of Things.

Python is great for web development.

 

Web Development

 

There are a few frameworks for Web development using Python.

 

 

Most Commonly used:

·         Django -A great Python framework.

·         Flask-Another Popular framework of Python

 

 

Installing in Windows:

Many of us are using Windows and other Operating systems.

 

Pre requisites of installing Python:

1.      Windows 10 with Admin Privileges

2.      Command Prompt (already in Windows)

 

Steps to Install Python in Windows:

 

1.      Select Version of Python to use.

2.      Download Installer

3.      Run Executable

 

Great, you have installed. This article is not showing every step since you should now bye now know how to install. Do not take errors as some curse. Rather you learn when you make mistakes. I remember in 2003, where technological resources were scarce and technology was not promoted by government then.

 

I had to figure out how to Install PHP, Apache and mySQL separately and connect them together until Xampp came. If you are a PHP developer and starting from trying to install Xampp. Hold it, no install the traditional way. That is if you want

to be a great developer.

Missing something

After Install:

1.      Go to the place python.exe was installed and click it.

2.      You will see a black command Prompt like window. Something written like: “Python 3.7.3…...”. Yes, you got Python installed.

3.      Test if PIP is installed after finding in the directory.

4.      “PIP Help”

 

If you are still stuck in Installation then visit this link.

 

The Main code

We try to figure out how we start. It is very simple.

 

We add two simple numbers, integers.

 

But let us go quickly to Python basics

 

Data types:

·         Numbers: int, float, Complex numbers

·         List

·         Tuple-a sequence of numbers which cannot be altered.

·         Strings

·         Sets

·         Dictionary

·         Boolean types

 

 

 

 

Python Code to add two numbers:

 

x = 5

y = 10

print (x + y)

 

We see how python solves a Quadratic Equation.

The formula for quadratic equation is: ax2 + bx + c=0.

a, b and c are all co efficient and real numbers.

The discrimant ,D=b2–4ac.

 

Solutions of x are:

·         If D is positive, we have two solutions.

·         IF D is negative no solutions.

·         If zero repeated solutions.

The above is from maths in school.

We go the code:

 

from math import sqrt

check_input = True

while check_input:

    a, b, c = eval(input("Please enter the a, b, c coefficients of your quadratic equation: "))

    try:

        float(a), float(b), float(c)

        check_input = False

    except ValueError:

        print ("Please make sure the coefficients are real numbers and try again")

        check_input = True

 

disc = sqrt(b*b-4*a*c)

 

if disc >=0:

    x1 = (-b+disc)/(2*a)

    x2 = (-b-disc)/(2*a)

    print ("The roots of the equation are:", x1, x2)

else:

    print ("The equation has no solutions").

 

 

 

 

It is seen that the code needed for a certain operation in python is less for than in other languages.

 

Applications of Python:

Where are we applying Python? First time I heard about Python, reminded me of the Movie” Anaconda”.

We people in the IT Sector keep giving catchy names:

 

 

 

Yahoo!

CakePHP

FuelPHP

Aura.

 

Application areas of Python:

Here list of areas where Python is applied:

·         Web Development

·         AI

·         Software

·         Desktop GUI

·         OS ddevelopment

·         Image Processing-like GIMP, Scribus, Paintshop Pro.

 

There are well-known Software using all or parts of   Python:

·         YouTube lot of Python code

·         Google

·         Reddit

·         Instagram

·         Quora

This is interesting and all the more to start learning Python.

But you do have to learn Programming first.

 

Conclusion:

Python happens to be the trend in Programming, something like when PHP was around 2000.

Our previous post on programming talks about languages to be learned initially.