Python is a high-level, general-purpose programming language that emphasizes code readability. It supports multiple programming paradigms including object-oriented, imperative and functional programming. Python code is typically shorter than equivalent Java or C++ code, due to features like automatic memory management and its use of indentation for code blocks rather than curly braces. While Python code runs slower than compiled languages, its rapid development cycle makes it productive for prototyping and small-to-medium sized projects.

1. Introduction to Python
“To describe something as clever is NOT considered
a compliment in the Python culture.” Alex Martelli, Python
Cookbook (2nd ed., p. 230)
Prepared by:
Amgad Mohamed | Hussein Mohamed | Yasser Mohsen

3. Brief Introduction
– Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming
language whose design philosophy emphasizes code
readability.
– Python claims to "combine remarkable power with
very clear syntax", along with a huge standard
library with the uniqueness of using indentation as a
block delimiters.
– Python had three major releases to support multiple
programming paradigms including Object Oriented
Programming, Imperative programming and
Functional programming. Additionally, it features a
fully dynamic typing systems and automatic garbage
collection.

4. Quick History
– Python was conceived in the late 1980s, and its
implementation was started in December 1989 by Guido
van Rossum.
– Python 2.0 was released on 16 October 2000, with many
major new features including a full garbage collector and
support for Unicode.
– Python 3.0 (also known as Python 3000 or py3k), a major,
backwards-incompatible release, was released on 3
December 2008.
• Python 3.0 was developed with the same philosophy as in prior
versions. However, as Python had accumulated new and redundant
ways to program the same task, Python 3.0 had an emphasis on
removing duplicative constructs and modules, in keeping with "There
should be one and preferably only one obvious way to do it".

5. Advantages / Disadvantages
I. Supports multiple paradigms.
II. Less code To Achieve More (Expressiveness)
III. Support Libraries (Extendibility)
IV. High productivity
A. Less time to code and since there is no compilation step; the edit-
test-debug cycle is incredibly fast.
B. Anecdotal evidence suggests that one Python programmer can finish
in two months what two C++ programmers can't complete in a year,
Python code is often 5-10 times shorter than equivalent C++ code.
C. Python programs are typically 3-5 times shorter than equivalent Java
programs.
V. Auto Memory Management and Exception Handling.
I. Compared to other programming languages, Python performance (time
and space), is way behind, Hard to Translate, and lack of documentation.

6. Benchmarking

7. Translation
– Python Code is compiled to byte code similar
to Java, and then this Byte code is interpreted
to the underlying machine language. (Pseudo
Interpreter)
– This byte code provides
• portability.
• speed execution - byte code can be run much
more quickly than the original source code

8. Sample Code - GCD
def gcd(a, b):
"greatest common divisor"
while a != 0:
a, b = b%a, a # parallel assignment
return b

9. Zen of Python (Easter Egg)
• Beautiful is better than ugly.
• Explicit is better than implicit.
• Simple is better than complex.
• Complex is better than complicated.
• Flat is better than nested.
• Sparse is better than dense.
• Readability counts.
• Special cases aren't special enough to break the rules.
• Although practicality beats purity.
• Errors should never pass silently
• Unless explicitly silenced.
• In the face of ambiguity, refuse the temptation to guess.
• There should be one-- and preferably only one --obvious way to do it.
• Although that way may not be obvious at first unless you're Dutch.
• Now is better than never.
• Although never is often better than *right* now.
• If the implementation is hard to explain, it's a bad idea.
• If the implementation is easy to explain, it may be a good idea.
• Namespaces are one honking great idea -- let's do more of those!

10. References
• [1] http://docs.python.org/faq/general.html#what-is-python-good-for.
Retrieved 2011-10-04
• [2] http://www.python.org/doc/essays/blurb/ Python
documentation. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
• [3] http://docs.python.org/faq/general#what-is-python Retrieved
2011-10-04
• [4] http://www.artima.com/intv/pythonP.html Retrieved 2011-10-04
• [5] http://docs.python.org/license.html Retrieved 2011-10-04
• [6] http://python.org/download/releases/3.0/ Retrieved 2011-10-04
• [7]http://ugweb.cs.ualberta.ca/~c410/F07/410/presentations/ReportP
ython.pdf
• [8] Learning Python 4th Ed, Mark Lutz
• [9] Core Python Programming 2nd Edition, Wesley J. Chun - Sep
2006
• [10] Python Enhancement Proposals, 20 -- The Zen of Python.