About Python

Python puts the 'Py' in 'SoniPy':

Python is a dynamic object-oriented programming language that can be used for many kinds of software development. It offers strong support for integration with other languages and tools, comes with extensive standard libraries, and can be learned in a few days. Many Python programmers report substantial productivity gains and feel the language encourages the development of higher quality, more maintainable code.

The choice of Python was not arbitrary, as it possesses all the features of a modern modular programming language that we consider essential for an experimental development environment. It is a general-purpose programming language which may also serve as a 'glue' language for connecting separate software components in a simple and flexible manner, or as a 'steering' language where high-level Python control modules guide low-level operations implemented by subroutine libraries effected in other languages.

Other descriptors include: simple, but not at the expense of expressive power, extensible, embeddable, interpreted, objectoriented, dynamically typed, upwardly compatible, portable and widely and freely available. You can read more about it at the official Python website: http://www.python.org/.

Direct access to the Python Interpreter for text output and exception notification is obtained through the Command Line Interface (CLI) by default. In addition, python modules can be run from the terminal (using the same terminology used for shell scripts or by using an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) such as IDLE, which provides access to the CLI as well as a python keyword sensitive text editor for script development.

Although Python comes with an extensive standard library and there are many third-party modules available, we are not limited to using just Python modules. A powerful feature of Python is its well-defined interface to other languages. Libraries written in most languages can be integrated through Python by 'extending' it. This feature is further developed under the EXTEND menu, above.

20090401 update: Today, Guido van Rossum, who wrote the original implementation of Python in 1989, and after nearly 20 years of leading the community, has decided to step aside as its Benevolent Dictator For Life. After unanimous vote of the Python Steering Union (not to be confused with the Python Secret Underground, which emphatically does not exist) chose Barry Warsaw as Guido's successor. See the official announcement.