Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language created by Guido van Rossum. The language’s design philosophy emphasizes code readability and simplicity, making it a popular choice for both beginners and experienced developers.
Python’s journey started in the late 1980s and early 1990s and since then it has evolved into one of the most widely used and popular programming languages in various domains.
The Birth of Python
Van Rossum, a Dutch programmer, started working on Python in December 1989 during his Christmas vacation while working at the Center Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) in the Netherlands. His goal was to create a language that would be easy to read, write, and maintain.
In my senior year of high school, I was voted “least likely to invent my own programming language.”
— Guido van Rossum (@gvanrossum) April 24, 2023
Early development
In the early 1990s, Python continued to evolve, and on February 20, 1991, it had its first public release, version 0.9.0 — the first time the programming community had seen Python. The language design used elements from several other programming languages, including ABC, Modula-3, C, and others, to create a flexible and expressive syntax.
Python 2 vs. Python 3
Python 2.0, which included several new features and improvements, was released in 2000. However, as the language evolved, some of the design choices in Python 2 made the language more difficult to maintain and develop.
In response, Python 3 was created and launched on December 3, 2008. With the introduction of backwards-incompatible improvements to increase consistency and remove unnecessary features, Python 3 represented a substantial advance.
However, Python 3 is not fully backwards compatible with Python 2 – which has reached the end of its life and is no longer actively maintained – requiring some code modifications when migrating between versions.
fwiw, I just noticed that filter() works differently in Python 2 vs 3.
Python 2:
filter(lambda x: x % 2 == 0, range(10))
[0, 2, 4, 6, 8]Python 3:
>>> a = filter(lambda x: x % 2 == 0, range(10))
>>> a
>>> list(s)
[0, 2, 4, 6, 8]— Anatoly Karp (@akarp) March 3, 2021
The latest stable release of Python 3.10.4, the fourth maintenance release of Python 3.10, was officially released on March 24, 2023.
Increased popularity
Python’s popularity has grown over the years due to its readability, adaptability, and ease of use. Its clear and simple syntax was popular with developers because it made it easier to write and understand code.
The availability of an extensive standard library and several third-party packages through the Python Package Index accelerated the adoption of Python. These applications include web application development, data analysisartificial intelligence, scripting, automation and more.
Related: How to learn Python with ChatGPT
Python in the modern age
Python became one of the most popular programming languages by 2010, and its use has only grown since then. The thriving Python community and environment has been boosted by the adoption of the language by several IT firms, startups and organizations for their projects.
How is Python called Python?
Van Rossum named Python after the British comedy troupe Monty Python’s Flying Circus, of which he was a fan.
Despite its humorous beginnings, Python has evolved into a serious and important programming language that powers important projects and systems around the world. However, the amusing association with Monty Python remained a charming feature of Python’s past.
Related: 7 Most Wanted Programming Languages You Must Learn
What should Python not be used for?
Python is a powerful and versatile programming language that can be used for a variety of purposes. However, there are a few circumstances where this may not be the best choice. Some examples are real-time systems, resource-intensive software, mobile application development, high-frequency trading, system-level programming, memory-intensive software, mobile or console games, and certain cryptographic algorithms.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that using the right libraries and tools can often help overcome Python’s limitations. The choice of programming language ultimately depends on the needs of the project, the experience of the team, and the development goals. Python is still a popular and useful language that can be used alone or in combination with other languages to accomplish many tasks.