Lecture – 1
Introduction to Python as a Language
2
By: Aditya Tandon
What is Python?
• Python is a high-level programming language which is:
• Interpreted: Python is processed at runtime by the interpreter.
• Interactive: You can use a Python prompt and interact with the interpreter directly to
write your programs.
• Object-oriented: Python supports object-oriented technique of programming.
• Beginner’s Language: Python is a great language for the beginner-level programmers
and supports the development of a wide range of applications.
07/05/2025 Python Programming 3
Compilers vs Interpreters
Compilers Interpreters
Converts programs Translates a HLL into
written in HLL into MLL MLL
Converts the whole Converts the HLL to
program at a time MLL line-by-line
Used by Ruby, Perl,
Used by C, C++
Python, PHP
07/05/2025 Python Programming 4
Python Features
• Easy to learn, easy to read and easy to maintain.
• Portable: It can run on various hardware platforms and has the same interface on all
platforms.
• Extendable: You can add low-level modules to the Python interpreter.
• Scalable: Python provides a good structure and support for large programs.
• Python has support for interactive mode of testing and debugging.
07/05/2025 Python Programming 5
• Python has a broad standard library across various platforms.
Python • Everything in Python is an object: variables, functions, even
Features
code.
• Every object has an ID, a type, and a value.
07/05/2025 Python Programming 6
More Features …
• Python provides interfaces to all major commercial databases.
• Python supports functional and structured programming methods as well as OOP.
• Python provides a very high-level dynamic data types and supports dynamic type-
checking.
• Python supports GUI (Graphical User Interface) applications.
• Python supports automatic garbage collection.
• Python can be easily integrated with C, C++, and Java.
• Cython, Jython
07/05/2025 Python Programming 7
History of Python
• Python was conceptualized by Guido Van Rossum in the late
• 1980s.
• Rossum published the first version of Python code (0.9.0) in
February 1991 at the CWI (Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica) in
the Netherlands , Amsterdam.
• Python is derived from ABC programming language, which is a
general-purpose programming language that had been
developed at the CWI.
• Rossum chose the name "Python", since he was a big fan of
Monty Python's Flying Circus.
• Python is now maintained by a core development team at the
institute, although Rossum still holds a vital role in directing its
progress.
Image Source: https://www.cwi.nl/news/blogs/interview-guido-van-rossum-201cid-rather-write-code-than-papers.201d
07/05/2025 Python Programming 8
Python Timeline
07/05/2025 Python Programming 9
Latest
Version
• You can
download the
latest version of
Python from the
website:
www.python.org
07/05/2025 Python Programming 10
Useful Tools
07/05/2025 Python Programming 11
Useful Tools
07/05/2025 Python Programming 12
Organizations that use Python
• Web Development: Google, AWS
• Games: Battlefield 2, Crystal Space
• Graphics: Walt Disney Feature Animation, Blender 3D
• Science: NASA, Applied Mathematics
• Software Development: Nokia, Red Hat, IBM
07/05/2025 Python Programming 13
Organizations that use Python
07/05/2025 Python Programming 14
THANK YOU
07/05/2025 Python Programming 15
