In its current state, Python miraculously manages to combine simplicity
with incredible depth and breadth. On the one hand, Python is very
similar to Java in terms of how one might apply it to build solutions
and the kind of features it supports. Like Java, it is object-oriented,
runs bytecode, and works well for server-side Web applications. Like
Java, you can use Python to build client-side applets. There is a
Netscape plug-in for this, but nobody seems to use it and it's not
supported anymore. Why? Because you can write applets in Python and
compile them into Java bytecode for use with any Java 1.1-enabled
browser. These are but a few examples of Python's depth.
Unlike Java, Python is ideal for tossing together a quick script to do
mundane work. If you're a casual Linux user, you have probably been
executing many Python scripts and applets without knowing it. People
use Python this way because Python is even easier to use in doing
mundane tasks than Unix shell script languages, and it is infinitely
more powerful. That demonstrates its breadth.
I don't mean to rekindle the Python versus Java wars that raged a few
years back. Each language has its place. Neither is perfect for every
need, although Python is closer than Java to being a one-size-fits-all
language. But I happen to be as big a fan of Java as I am of Python.
And I am drawing the comparison because you would do well to consider
both if you're about to embark on a new Web application project. You
just might find that Python is more appropriate than Java for your
particular task.
One of the first things you'll notice about Python is its unique way of
grouping statements. Python uses indentation to parse its code. Most C
programmers tend to use indentation in order to make their code
readable. You type an "if" statement, go to the next line, indent
farther to the right than the "if" statement, and then type the code
that is executed if the condition is true.
The difference is that in C you don't have to indent anything. You
simply do so because that makes it easier to understand the programming
logic when you come back to the code later. In contrast, you need to
indent Python statements properly, or your program won't run. You can
use tabs or spaces, or even mix the two, but you have to be consistent.
Indenting might feel rather odd when you first start programming in
Python, however it takes just a few minutes to realize that it is not
only an intuitive way to program, but it also pushes you to create code
that is more readable, and therefore easier to maintain.
The other thing you'll notice is that it is as easy to create Python
classes (objects) as it is to toss together a procedural script. So
much so that you often end up using objects in Python even when you
don't have to. That makes your code more reusable, which is always a
good thing.
I've barely scratched the surface of what Python is and what it can do.
If I've piqued your interest, visit http://www.python.org for more
information. Once you have learned your way around Python and want to
make your programming useful, I recommend that you pick up the O'Reilly
book Programming Python by Mark Lutz, now in its second edition.
