Technology and devices are evolving rapidly, which means we need new tools to develop digital solutions. We develop applications, web pages, and software tools that we use every day. Programming languages are essential for creating these solutions.
The most commonly used programming languages are Java, Swift, PHP, Javascript, and C++. There is one today that stands out from the rest, and it is Python. It has been used for 30 years, but only recently has its popularity increased. Why is Python different from other programming languages?
Here are some reasons to learn Python and why you might want to start programming with it. Moreover, we will discuss what Python is used for and its advantages.
Python: what is it?
Python is a general-purpose programming language that is ideal for many different applications. High-level data structures, dynamic typing, dynamic binding, and many more features make it ideal for complex app development as well as scripting and gluing together components. It can also run code written in C or C++ and make system calls to almost all operating systems. Among the many applications Python is used for, it is based on its ubiquity and the ability to run on nearly every system architecture.
PyPI (Python Package Index) is a database of thousands of third-party modules for the Python programming language. For example, PyPI supports Django and Pandas for web development, as well as NumPy, Pandas, and Mathplotlib for data science.
Here are some features of Python:
Python’s syntax is clear and easy to read, making it an ideal language for both beginners and advanced programmers. It can speed up development and reduce the likelihood of errors due to its simplicity.
- Dynamically Typed – Variables are dynamically typed during runtime. Coding does not require specifying the data type of variables.
- It is a language that is human readable.
- It is compiled and interpreted – Python code is first compiled into bytecode, and then it is interpreted line by line. The default implementation of Python in our system is known as CPython, which is what we download in our system from the org. It is considered that CPython is both compile and interpret.
- Garbage Collection – Memory allocation and de-allocation are automatically managed. Programmers do not specifically need to manage the memory.
- Object-Oriented – Everything is an object, including strings and numbers.
- Compatibility with Windows, macOS, and various Linux distributions – Python can be easily installed across all operating systems, allowing developers to create software that runs on all of them.
- Python has several standard libraries that offer ready-to-use modules and functions for various tasks, from web development and data manipulation to machine learning and networking.
- The Python programming language is open-source and free to download. This makes it useful in a wide variety of sectors and disciplines.
Several web-based assets, open-source projects, and a vibrant community make Python a useful programming language. Python makes learning the language, collaborating on projects, and contributing to the ecosystem extremely easy.
Functional programming in Python
Here are some important tools related to functional programming, such as lambda and recursive functions. Complex tasks can be accomplished very efficiently with these functions. A few important functions are defined, such as reduce, map, and filter. Functional programming tools are provided by the Python functools module. To learn more about functional programming, click here.
Functional programming has been made more efficient and expressive with recent versions of Python. When working with nested function calls or list comprehensions, the “walrus operator”:= allows you to assign variables directly in expressions.
Functions in Python
Lambda Functions – Lambda functions are small, anonymous functions that take any number of arguments but only have one expression. Functional programming often uses lambda functions to construct functions “on the fly” without defining them.
Recursive Function – A recursive function solves a problem by calling itself. To perform complex computations or traverse complex data structures, recursive functions are often used in functional programming.
Map Function – An iterable with the map() function is recursively mapped using a function, and the result is an iterable with the results. If the input is an iterable, it can be a list, tuple, or any other data type.
Filter Function – For each iterable for which the function passed as the first argument returns True, the filter() function returns an iterator. A condition is given that filters out the items from an iterable that do not meet the condition.
Reduce Function -To reduce an iterable to one value, the reduce() function applies a function of two arguments cumulatively.
functools Module -There are higher-order functions in the functools module in Python, including partial() and reduce().
Currying Function -When you curry a function, it takes multiple arguments and returns a sequence of functions each taking one argument.
Memoization Function -A memory technique in functional programming caches the results of expensive function calls and returns them when the same inputs are encountered again.
Threading Function – Functional programming uses threading to run multiple tasks simultaneously to increase efficiency and speed.
Does anyone use Python?
Python is used by many organizations. Some of the most prominent Python-using companies include:
- A statement from Mozilla, best known for Firefox, says the company has written over 230,000 lines of Python code.
- There is a Python training program shared by Google internally.
- Visual Studio Code is Microsoft’s IDE for Python development.
- From regional failover monitoring software to data science, Netflix utilizes Python extensively.
- Jupyter Notebook and IPython are two methods Uber says it uses to share data.
- Its source code is shared on GitHub and written largely in Python.
- Python 3 has been a public advocate for Dropbox’s infrastructure.
- ython is mentioned in an Increment article by Slack, Digital Ocean, Lyft, Sauce Labs, and Fastly.
Python developers are employed by companies such as CapitalOne, Bloomberg, and JPMorgan. Python is also used in many IT infrastructure technologies. It is the primary language used by the massive cloud computing project OpenStack, which powers both private and public clouds worldwide. Python is also used to write the infrastructure automation software Ansible.
Popular Python Frameworks and Libraries
With Python, you can develop web applications, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and many other applications. It has a wide range of libraries and frameworks that can be applied to various fields. Python frameworks and libraries are defined below.
- Scripting languages: Django Flask, Pyramid, CherryPy
- An application based on the GUI – Tkinter, PyGTK, PyQt, PyJs, etc.
- Learning concepts – TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, Matplotlib, Scipy, etc.
- Applied mathematics – NumPy, Pandas, etc.
- BeautifulSoup: a library for scraping the web and parsing XML and HTML
- HTTP request library Requests
- Working with SQL databases is made easy with SQLAlchemy
Python: When Was It Created?
A successor to ABC programming language, Python was developed in the late 1980s, despite its high-level capabilities and simplicity.
As a replacement for BASIC, ABC was designed in 1964. ABC offered many useful features, but it was not extensible and lacked the flexibility needed for broader use, serving primarily as an instructional language. A new language was created to address ABC’s weaknesses while retain the strengths of the original.
A version of Python called 0.9.0 was released in 1991 on alt.sources, an early internet forum for sharing source code. There were many core features in this initial version of Python, including object-oriented design, a module system, functions, exception handling, data types like lists, dictionaries, and strings.
The Python programming language was originally designed to improve upon ABC. Since then, Python has evolved into one of the most popular and widely used programming languages in the world. It is a favorite among developers across various domains thanks to its strong community of contributors and emphasis on simplicity and readability.
Python: How to learn it easily?
Python is the easiest programming language. A simple format, English-like syntax, and high flexibility make it an excellent choice. Here are some tips for learning Python quickly.
Keep up with the coding
It goes without saying that practice makes perfect. A good workout develops muscle memory and helps you avoid silly mistakes.
Paper and pen are required
Written by hand, anything is more likely to be remembered. Pen and paper are good tools for subconsciously training codes when practising.
Partner up to program
One is an individual, two is a team. Get a friend or learner who is interested in learning this programming language. It is important to have a driver and a navigator. It is the Diver who writes the code, while the Navigator aids in solving problems and ensures the code is error-free. To learn at the best pace, swap the roles periodically.
Design and build new things
For Python beginners, there are many short exercises. Learn Python and start creating programs. Your output will become more oriented as a result.