What is Python ?

When I first started coding, I felt like I was trying to learn a secret alien language. Then, I found Python. It felt less like “programming” and more like writing a clear, concise To-Do list for my computer.

If you’re just starting out or curious about why everyone is talking about Python, let’s break it down together.

What Exactly is Python?

In technical terms, Python is a high-level¹, interpreted², general-purpose programming language³. But unless you’re a computer scientist⁴, that’s a mouthful.

The Analogy: The Universal Remote Imagine you have a house full of different gadgets—a TV, a smart fridge, a security system, and a garage door. Instead of having 10 different, complicated manuals, you have one Universal Remote that uses simple English commands like “Turn on Lights” or “Open Door.”

Python is that remote. It allows you to talk to your computer, build websites, analyze data, or automate boring tasks using words that actually make sense to humans.

Let’s Look at the Code

Compare how you say “Hello World” in C++ versus Python:

C++ Version:

#include <iostream>
int main() {
    std::cout << "Hello, World!";
    return 0;
}

Python Version:

print("Hello, World!")

See the difference? Python stays out of your way so you can focus on solving problems rather than memorizing syntax.

A Quick Trip Down Memory Lane

To really understand Python, we have to look at how it started. It wasn’t built by a giant corporation like Google or Microsoft; it was the passion project of one man: Guido van Rossum.

1. The “Boredom” Project (1989)

During the Christmas holidays in 1989, Guido was looking for a “hobby” programming project to keep him busy. He wanted to create a successor to a language called ABC⁵ that would be easy to read and capable of handling complex tasks.

2. Why the name “Python”?

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not named after the snake! Guido was a big fan of the British comedy troupe Monty Python’s Flying Circus⁶. He wanted a name that was short, unique, and slightly mysterious.

3. Key Milestones

• 1991: Python 0.9.0 is released to the public.
• 2000: Python 2.0 arrives, introducing things like “list comprehensions” (a fancy way to process data quickly).
• 2008: Python 3.0 is released. This was a “breaking” change, meaning old code didn’t work with the new version. It was a rocky transition, but it made the language much cleaner and more modern.
• 2020: Python 2 was officially “retired,” and now we all live happily in the world of Python 3.

Why Should You Care About Python Today?

If I were to tell you why I think Python is the best “first” language to learn, I’d point to these three things:

1. Readability: It looks like English. You can often guess what a piece of code does just by looking at it.
2. The Community : Python follows a “batteries included” philosophy. This means it comes with a massive library of pre-written code. Want to do math? There’s a library. Want to build a game? There’s a library.
3. Versatility: It’s used by NASA for space exploration, by Netflix for movie recommendations, and by scientists to sequence DNA.

A Real-World Example: Automating a Task

Imagine you have a folder full of 100 files, and you need to rename all of them. Doing it by hand would take forever. In Python, it’s just a few lines:

import os

# A simple loop to rename files
for filename in os.listdir("."):
    if filename.endswith(".txt"):
        new_name = "DONE_" + filename
        os.rename(filename, new_name)

print("All files renamed successfully!")

Wrapping Up

Python isn’t just a tool; it’s a way of thinking. It teaches you to break big problems into small, readable steps. Whether you want to become a Data Scientist⁷, a Web Developer⁸, or just someone who wants to automate their spreadsheets, Python is the best place to start.

In our next tutorial, I’ll show you how to actually get Python set up on your machine so we can start writing our first real programs together!

Important Notes

1. High-level programming language: A programming language designed to be easy for humans to read, write, and understand while hiding hardware-level details. ↩︎
2. Interpreted: A type of code that is executed line by line by an interpreter rather than being compiled all at once. ↩︎
3. General-purpose programming language: A programming language designed to be used for a wide variety of applications rather than a single specific task. ↩︎
4. Computer scientist: A professional who studies computers, algorithms, and computational systems and develops new computing solutions. ↩︎
5. ABC programming language: A high-level, interpreted language developed at CWI in the 1980s that influenced the creation of Python. ↩︎
6. Monty Python’s Flying Circus: A British surreal comedy television show from the 1970s, famous for its absurd and satirical humor. ↩︎
7. Data Scientist: A professional who analyzes and interprets complex data using statistics, programming, and domain knowledge to extract insights. ↩︎
8. Web Developer: A professional who designs, builds, and maintains websites and web applications using coding languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. ↩︎