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4 General Python FAQ
15 What is Python?
16 ---------------
18 Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented programming language. It
20 types, and classes. Python combines remarkable power with very clear syntax.
24 Finally, Python is portable: it runs on many Unix variants, on the Mac, and on
25 PCs under MS-DOS, Windows, Windows NT, and OS/2.
27 To find out more, start with :ref:`tutorial-index`. The `Beginner's Guide to
28 Python <https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide>`_ links to other
29 introductory tutorials and resources for learning Python.
32 What is the Python Software Foundation?
33 ---------------------------------------
35 The Python Software Foundation is an independent non-profit organization that
36 holds the copyright on Python versions 2.1 and newer. The PSF's mission is to
37 advance open source technology related to the Python programming language and to
38 publicize the use of Python. The PSF's home page is at
39 https://www.python.org/psf/.
41 Donations to the PSF are tax-exempt in the US. If you use Python and find it
43 <https://www.python.org/psf/donations/>`_.
46 Are there copyright restrictions on the use of Python?
47 ------------------------------------------------------
50 copyrights in and display those copyrights in any documentation about Python
51 that you produce. If you honor the copyright rules, it's OK to use Python for
52 commercial use, to sell copies of Python in source or binary form (modified or
53 unmodified), or to sell products that incorporate Python in some form. We would
54 still like to know about all commercial use of Python, of course.
56 See `the PSF license page <https://www.python.org/psf/license/>`_ to find further
59 The Python logo is trademarked, and in certain cases permission is required to
61 <https://www.python.org/psf/trademarks/>`__ for more information.
64 Why was Python created in the first place?
65 ------------------------------------------
72 language design. This is the origin of many Python features, including the
74 very-high-level data types (although the details are all different in
75 Python).
79 implementation) to remedy my complaints -- in fact its lack of extensibility
80 was one of its biggest problems. I had some experience with using Modula-2+
81 and talked with the designers of Modula-3 and read the Modula-3 report.
82 Modula-3 is the origin of the syntax and semantics used for exceptions, and
83 some other Python features.
94 would be foolish to write an Amoeba-specific language, so I decided that I
99 on it in my own time, Python was used in the Amoeba project with increasing
107 What is Python good for?
108 ------------------------
110 Python is a high-level general-purpose programming language that can be applied
115 files), Internet protocols (HTTP, FTP, SMTP, XML-RPC, POP, IMAP, CGI
117 Python code), and operating system interfaces (system calls, filesystems, TCP/IP
118 sockets). Look at the table of contents for :ref:`library-index` to get an idea
119 of what's available. A wide variety of third-party extensions are also
120 available. Consult `the Python Package Index <https://pypi.org>`_ to
124 How does the Python version numbering scheme work?
125 --------------------------------------------------
127 Python versions are numbered A.B.C or A.B. A is the major version number -- it
129 version number, incremented for less earth-shattering changes. C is the
130 micro-level -- it is incremented for each bugfix release. See :pep:`6` for more
133 Not all releases are bugfix releases. In the run-up to a new major release, a
157 How do I obtain a copy of the Python source?
158 --------------------------------------------
160 The latest Python source distribution is always available from python.org, at
161 https://www.python.org/downloads/. The latest development sources can be obtained
162 at https://github.com/python/cpython/.
165 Sphinx-formatted documentation, Python library modules, example programs, and
169 Consult the `Getting Started section of the Python Developer's Guide
170 <https://docs.python.org/devguide/setup.html>`__ for more
174 How do I get documentation on Python?
175 -------------------------------------
179 The standard documentation for the current stable version of Python is available
180 at https://docs.python.org/3/. PDF, plain text, and downloadable HTML versions are
181 also available at https://docs.python.org/3/download.html.
184 documentation tool <http://sphinx-doc.org/>`__. The reStructuredText source for
185 the documentation is part of the Python source distribution.
188 I've never programmed before. Is there a Python tutorial?
189 ---------------------------------------------------------
192 includes :ref:`tutorial-index`.
194 Consult `the Beginner's Guide <https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide>`_ to
195 find information for beginning Python programmers, including lists of tutorials.
198 Is there a newsgroup or mailing list devoted to Python?
199 -------------------------------------------------------
201 There is a newsgroup, :newsgroup:`comp.lang.python`, and a mailing list,
202 `python-list <https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list>`_. The
203 newsgroup and mailing list are gatewayed into each other -- if you can read news
205 :newsgroup:`comp.lang.python` is high-traffic, receiving hundreds of postings
209 comp.lang.python.announce, a low-traffic moderated list that receives about five
210 postings per day. It's available as `the python-announce mailing list
211 <https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-announce-list>`_.
214 can be found at https://www.python.org/community/lists/.
217 How do I get a beta test version of Python?
218 -------------------------------------------
220 Alpha and beta releases are available from https://www.python.org/downloads/. All
221 releases are announced on the comp.lang.python and comp.lang.python.announce
222 newsgroups and on the Python home page at https://www.python.org/; an RSS feed of
225 You can also access the development version of Python through Git. See
226 `The Python Developer's Guide <https://docs.python.org/devguide/>`_ for details.
229 How do I submit bug reports and patches for Python?
230 ---------------------------------------------------
233 https://bugs.python.org/.
236 contact you if we have follow-up questions. It will also enable Roundup to send
238 report bugs to Python, you can obtain your Roundup password through Roundup's
239 `password reset procedure <https://bugs.python.org/user?@template=forgotten>`_.
241 For more information on how Python is developed, consult `the Python Developer's
242 Guide <https://docs.python.org/devguide/>`_.
245 Are there any published articles about Python that I can reference?
246 -------------------------------------------------------------------
248 It's probably best to cite your favorite book about Python.
250 The very first article about Python was written in 1991 and is now quite
254 Using the Python Programming Language", CWI Quarterly, Volume 4, Issue 4
255 (December 1991), Amsterdam, pp 283--303.
258 Are there any books on Python?
259 ------------------------------
261 Yes, there are many, and more are being published. See the python.org wiki at
262 https://wiki.python.org/moin/PythonBooks for a list.
264 You can also search online bookstores for "Python" and filter out the Monty
265 Python references; or perhaps search for "Python" and "language".
268 Where in the world is www.python.org located?
269 ---------------------------------------------
271 The Python project's infrastructure is located all over the world.
272 `www.python.org <https://www.python.org>`_ is graciously hosted by `Rackspace
275 <http://www.upfrontsystems.co.za/>`_ hosts `bugs.python.org
276 <https://bugs.python.org>`_. Many other Python services like `the Wiki
277 <https://wiki.python.org>`_ are hosted by `Oregon State
281 Why is it called Python?
282 ------------------------
284 When he began implementing Python, Guido van Rossum was also reading the
285 published scripts from `"Monty Python's Flying Circus"
288 decided to call the language Python.
291 Do I have to like "Monty Python's Flying Circus"?
292 -------------------------------------------------
297 Python in the real world
300 How stable is Python?
301 ---------------------
314 The latest stable releases can always be found on the `Python download page
315 <https://www.python.org/downloads/>`_. There are two recommended production-ready
317 stable releases: 2.x and 3.x. Python 3.x may be less useful than 2.x, since
318 currently there is more third party software available for Python 2 than for
319 Python 3. Python 2 code will generally not run unchanged in Python 3.
322 How many people are using Python?
323 ---------------------------------
328 Python is available for free download, so there are no sales figures, and it's
332 The comp.lang.python newsgroup is very active, but not all Python users post to
336 Have any significant projects been done in Python?
337 --------------------------------------------------
339 See https://www.python.org/about/success for a list of projects that use Python.
340 Consulting the proceedings for `past Python conferences
341 <https://www.python.org/community/workshops/>`_ will reveal contributions from many
344 High-profile Python projects include `the Mailman mailing list manager
348 system administration software in Python. Companies that use Python internally
352 What new developments are expected for Python in the future?
353 ------------------------------------------------------------
355 See https://www.python.org/dev/peps/ for the Python Enhancement Proposals
356 (PEPs). PEPs are design documents describing a suggested new feature for Python,
358 titled "Python X.Y Release Schedule", where X.Y is a version that hasn't been
361 New development is discussed on `the python-dev mailing list
362 <https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-dev/>`_.
365 Is it reasonable to propose incompatible changes to Python?
366 -----------------------------------------------------------
368 In general, no. There are already millions of lines of Python code around the
372 many books have been written about Python, and we don't want to invalidate them
376 :pep:`5` describes the procedure followed for introducing backward-incompatible
380 Is Python a good language for beginning programmers?
381 ----------------------------------------------------
387 served by learning Python as their first language. Python has a very simple and
389 Python in a beginning programming course lets students concentrate on important
391 Python, students can be quickly introduced to basic concepts such as loops and
392 procedures. They can probably even work with user-defined objects in their very
403 Many other aspects of Python make it a good first language. Like Java, Python
406 restricted to the standard four-function calculator and check balancing
409 Using the standard library also teaches students about code reuse. Third-party
412 Python's interactive interpreter enables students to test language features
429 Help on built-in function append:
432 L.append(object) -- append object to end
441 There are also good IDEs for Python. IDLE is a cross-platform IDE for Python
442 that is written in Python using Tkinter. PythonWin is a Windows-specific IDE.
443 Emacs users will be happy to know that there is a very good Python mode for
445 auto-indenting, and access to the interactive interpreter while coding. Consult
446 `the Python wiki <https://wiki.python.org/moin/PythonEditors>`_ for a full list
447 of Python editing environments.
449 If you want to discuss Python's use in education, you may be interested in
450 joining `the edu-sig mailing list
451 <https://www.python.org/community/sigs/current/edu-sig>`_.
454 Upgrading Python
458 --------------------------------------------------------------------
469 Using your old version of Python and a pair of scripts which are part of Python
471 convert your old database files to the new format. Using your old Python
482 python <pathto>/pickle2db.py database.db database.pck