History of Python

Python is one of the most popular, high-level, general-purpose programming languages. It was created with a focus on code readability and allows developers to write concepts in fewer lines compared to C++ or Java.

Who Invented Python?

• Creator: Guido van Rossum
• Started: 1989, at Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI), Netherlands
• First Release: 1991
• Reason: Started as a hobby project during Christmas holidays
• Predecessor: Inspired by the ABC language, but Guido improved it by fixing its limitations

Why is it called Python?

• Named after the BBC comedy series “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”
• Guido wanted a name that was short, unique, and a little mysterious
• He served as Python’s BDFL (Benevolent Dictator for Life) until 2018
• Worked at Google and later at Dropbox

Evolution of Python

When first released, Python already supported:

• Classes with inheritance
• Core data types
• Exception handling
• Functions

Key Versions:

• Python 2.x → Popular for many years, but now outdated
• Python 3.x → Current standard, actively developed
• Latest Version: Python 3.12.1 (as of now)

Download and Install Python 3 Latest Version

Popularity and Usage

Python is widely used for:

• Web development
• Scripting and automation
• Software testing
• Data science and machine learning

Top companies using Python: Google, Dropbox, Mozilla, IBM, Cisco, Qualcomm, Quora, HP

In 2022, the Anaconda Foundation introduced PyScript, allowing Python code to run directly in the browser (similar to JavaScript).

Influence on Other Languages

Python has inspired many modern languages, such as:

• Ruby
• Swift
• Go
• Julia
• Groovy
• CoffeeScript
• ECMAScript
• OCaml
• Boo
• Cobra

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Python Tutorial