When you hear the word Python most likely the first thing that comes to your mind is a snake, but in the computing world Python is a programming language. A programming language may be defined as a virtual language used to write a code that will ultimately allow a non-programmer to interface with a computer using the finished product of the programmer. Every program that has ever been used on a computer was written in one or more programming languages and then the end product was distributed either for a fee or freely to users.
Unlike most of the programming languages that have been developed over the history of computing Python is completely free to use and learn due to an approved open source license. This means that the original coding for the Python programming language is freely available for anyone to view and modify in whichever way they like. The license for Python is flexible allowing persons who use the programming language to create their own applications, the freedom of choice to make their programs free to the public. Or to charge a fee for the finished product without any requirements for royalties to be paid to the original developers of the programming language.
Learning Python as with any other programming language can range from easy to difficult depending on your aptitude and prior experience or lack thereof with a programming language. Since the Python programming language is free and open source there are numerous tutorials freely available to persons who have internet access. Or you may opt to purchase books that delve into the programming language if you rather having a hard copy to refer to as you move along with your tutorials.
The website for Python which is http://www.python.org/ has a documentation section which will go through tutorials with you in your mission to learn the language. If you prefer video tutorials then visiting websites like http://www.youtube.com/ and searching for “Python Tutorials” will give you a number of results to sift through that may have video and audio instructing you on the procedures to learn this programming language.
The tutorial that is on the official python website has 14 main topics with additional subtopics. The main topics are:
- Whetting Your Appetite
- Using the Python Interpreter
- An Informal Introduction to Python
- More Control Flow Tools
- Data Structures
- Modules
- Input and Output
- Errors and Exceptions
- Classes
- Brief Tour of the Standard Library
- Brief Tour of the Standard Library – Part II
- What Now?
- Interactive Input Editing and History Substitution
- Floating Point Arithmetic: Issues and Limitations
Navigating through the Python website you will find a link marked COMMUNITY which will give you additional links to resources including forums regarding Python. With the resources available on-hand including the video tutorials available and the forum-based assistance that you can access learning the Python programming language may not be as difficult as learning some others as many resources are available.