'What is Python?

\n',
'Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented programming language. It
incorporates modules, exceptions, dynamic typing, very high level dynamic data
types, and classes. Python combines remarkable power with very clear syntax. It has
interfaces to many system calls and libraries, as well as to various window
systems, and is extensible in C or C++. It is also usable as an extension language
for applications that need a programmable interface. Finally, Python is portable:
it runs on many Unix variants, on the Mac, and on Windows 2000 and later.\n',
'\n',
'To find out more, start with The Python Tutorial. The Beginner�s Guide to Python
links to other introductory tutorials and resources for learning Python.\n',
'\n',
'What is the Python Software Foundation?\n',
'The Python Software Foundation is an independent non-profit organization that
holds the copyright on Python versions 2.1 and newer. The PSF�s mission is to
advance open source technology related to the Python programming language and to
publicize the use of Python. The PSF�s home page is at
https://www.python.org/psf/.\n',
'\n',
'Donations to the PSF are tax-exempt in the US. If you use Python and find it
helpful, please contribute via the PSF donation page.\n',
'\n',
'Are there copyright restrictions on the use of Python?\n',
'You can do anything you want with the source, as long as you leave the copyrights
in and display those copyrights in any documentation about Python that you produce.
If you honor the copyright rules, it�s OK to use Python for commercial use, to sell
copies of Python in source or binary form (modified or unmodified), or to sell
products that incorporate Python in some form. We would still like to know about
all commercial use of Python, of course.\n',
'\n',
'See the PSF license page to find further explanations and a link to the full text
of the license.\n',
'\n',
'The Python logo is trademarked, and in certain cases permission is required to
use it. Consult the Trademark Usage Policy for more information.\n',
'\n',
'Why was Python created in the first place?\n',
'Here�s a very brief summary of what started it all, written by Guido van Rossum:\
n',
'\n',
'I had extensive experience with implementing an interpreted language in the ABC
group at CWI, and from working with this group I had learned a lot about language
design. This is the origin of many Python features, including the use of
indentation for statement grouping and the inclusion of very-high-level data types
(although the details are all different in Python).\n',
'\n',
'I had a number of gripes about the ABC language, but also liked many of its
features. It was impossible to extend the ABC language (or its implementation) to
remedy my complaints � in fact its lack of extensibility was one of its biggest
problems. I had some experience with using Modula-2+ and talked with the designers
of Modula-3 and read the Modula-3 report. Modula-3 is the origin of the syntax and
semantics used for exceptions, and some other Python features.\n',
'\n',
'I was working in the Amoeba distributed operating system group at CWI. We needed
a better way to do system administration than by writing either C programs or
Bourne shell scripts, since Amoeba had its own system call interface which wasn�t
easily accessible from the Bourne shell. My experience with error handling in
Amoeba made me acutely aware of the importance of exceptions as a programming
language feature.\n',
 '\n',
'It occurred to me that a scripting language with a syntax like ABC but with
access to the Amoeba system calls would fill the need. I realized that it would be
foolish to write an Amoeba-specific language, so I decided that I needed a language
that was generally extensible.\n',
'\n',
'During the 1989 Christmas holidays, I had a lot of time on my hand, so I decided
to give it a try. During the next year, while still mostly working on it in my own
time, Python was used in the Amoeba project with increasing success, and the
feedback from colleagues made me add many early improvements.\n',
'\n',
'In February 1991, after just over a year of development, I decided to post to
USENET. The rest is in the Misc/HISTORY file.\n',
'\n',
'What is Python good for?\n',
'Python is a high-level general-purpose programming language that can be applied
to many different classes of problems.\n',
'\n',
'The language comes with a large standard library that covers areas such as string
processing (regular expressions, Unicode, calculating differences between files),
Internet protocols (HTTP, FTP, SMTP, XML-RPC, POP, IMAP, CGI programming), software
engineering (unit testing, logging, profiling, parsing Python code), and operating
system interfaces (system calls, filesystems, TCP/IP sockets). Look at the table of
contents for The Python Standard Library to get an idea of what�s available. A wide
variety of third-party extensions are also available. Consult the Python Package
Index to find packages of interest to you.\n',
'\n',
'How does the Python version numbering scheme work?\n',
'Python versions are numbered A.B.C or A.B. A is the major version number � it is
only incremented for really major changes in the language. B is the minor version
number, incremented for less earth-shattering changes. C is the micro-level � it is
incremented for each bugfix release. See PEP 6 for more information about bugfix
releases.\n',
'\n',
'Not all releases are bugfix releases. In the run-up to a new major release, a
series of development releases are made, denoted as alpha, beta, or release
candidate. Alphas are early releases in which interfaces aren�t yet finalized; it�s
not unexpected to see an interface change between two alpha releases. Betas are
more stable, preserving existing interfaces but possibly adding new modules, and
release candidates are frozen, making no changes except as needed to fix critical
bugs.\n',
'\n',
'Alpha, beta and release candidate versions have an additional suffix. The suffix
for an alpha version is �aN� for some small number N, the suffix for a beta version
is �bN� for some small number N, and the suffix for a release candidate version is
�cN� for some small number N. In other words, all versions labeled 2.0aN precede
the versions labeled 2.0bN, which precede versions labeled 2.0cN, and those precede
2.0.\n',
'\n',
'You may also find version numbers with a �+� suffix, e.g. �2.2+�. These are
unreleased versions, built directly from the CPython development repository. In
practice, after a final minor release is made, the version is incremented to the
next minor version, which becomes the �a0� version, e.g. �2.4a0�.'The Python
Software Foundation is an independent non-profit organization that holds the
copyright on Python versions 2.1 and newer. The PSF�s mission is to advance open
source technology related to the Python programming language and to publicize the
use of Python. The PSF�s home page is at https://www.python.org/psf/.
'You may also find version numbers with a �+� suffix, e.g. �2.2+�. These are
unreleased versions, built directly from the CPython development repository. In
practice, after a final minor release is made, the version is incremented to the
next minor version, which becomes the �a0� version, e.g. �2.4a0�.'The Python
Software Foundation is an independent non-profit organization that holds the
copyright on Python versions 2.1 and newer. The PSF�s mission is to advance open
source technology related to the Python programming language and to publicize the
use of Python. The PSF�s home page is at https://www.python.org/psf/.
'You may also find version numbers with a �+� suffix, e.g. �2.2+�. These are
unreleased versions, built directly from the CPython development repository. In
practice, after a final minor release is made, the version is incremented to the
next minor version, which becomes the �a0� version, e.g. �2.4a0�.'The Python
Software Foundation is an independent non-profit organization that holds the
copyright on Python versions 2.1 and newer. The PSF�s mission is to advance open
source technology related to the Python programming language and to publicize the
use of Python. The PSF�s home page is at https://www.python.org/psf/.