Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level
programming language with dynamic semantics. Its high-level
built in data structures, combined with dynamic typing
and dynamic binding, make it very attractive for Rapid
Application Development, as well as for use as a scripting
or glue language to connect existing components together.
Python's simple, easy to learn syntax emphasizes readability
and therefore reduces the cost of program maintenance.
Python supports modules and packages, which encourages
program modularity and code reuse. The Python interpreter
and the extensive standard library are available in
source or binary form without charge for all major platforms,
and can be freely distributed.
Often, programmers fall in love with Python because
of the increased productivity it provides. Since there
is no compilation step, the edit-test-debug cycle is
incredibly fast. Debugging Python programs is easy:
a bug or bad input will never cause a segmentation fault.
Instead, when the interpreter discovers an error, it
raises an exception. When the program doesn't catch
the exception, the interpreter prints a stack trace.
A source level debugger allows inspection of local and
global variables, evaluation of arbitrary expressions,
setting breakpoints, stepping through the code a line
at a time, and so on. The debugger is written in Python
itself, testifying to Python's introspective power.
On the other hand, often the quickest way to debug a
program is to add a few print statements to the source:
the fast edit-test-debug cycle makes this simple approach
very effective.
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