Introduction to Python

What is Python?

===============

- an interpreted language (a software installed on your computer reads your

  python code)

    * although Python is an interpreted language, it uses sometimes compiled

      code (*.pyc) to speed up execution

- not necessarily a compiled language (converts human-readable code into

  byte-code and relay it directly to hardware)

- programming language used for automation

    > search and replace

    > for small database

    > specialized GUI application

    > simple game

    > etc..

- not well suited for GUI applications or games

- cross-platform: can be used in Windows or *NIX systems

Features of Python

==================

- offers much more error checking than C

- has high-level data types

    > flexible arrays

    > dictionaries

- appicable on more areas than awk or perl

- allows to split programs into modules

    > file I/O

    > system calls

    > sockets

    > GUI toolkits such as Tk

- interpreted language: no complition and linking needed

- interpreter can be used interactively (just enter `python` in cli)

- programs written in Python are typically shorter than C/C++/Java counterparts

    > high-level data types can be expressed in a single statement

    > grouping is down by indentation instead of beginning and ending brackets

    > no variable or argument declaration necessary

- extensible (modules can be added)

Getting Help

============

- python contains documentations and manual pages

- ways on getting useful information:

    a. open up web location to browse HTMl docs: # pydoc -p 9999

    b. prints functions/names define in a module: `dir(mod_name)` or dir

       (mod1.mod2)

    c. open manual pages: `help(mod_name)`

    d. interactive help session: `help()`