What is Python?

Python is a powerful, high-level, and easy-to-learn programming language that is widely used in software development, DevOps, data science, automation, web development, artificial intelligence, and more. Guido van Rossum, a Dutch programmer, created Python in the late 1980s, He officially released Python 1.0 in 1991. Guido's goal was to make a language that was easy to read and write, allowing developers to express ideas in fewer lines of code. Python emphasizes readability and simplicity, making it a great language for both beginners and experienced developers.

🔹 Key Characteristics of Python:

1. Open-Source and Free:

• Python is free to use and distribute even for commercial purposes.
• Its source code is publicly available, and a vast global community contributes to its development and improvement.

1. General-Purpose Language:

• Python isn’t limited to one domain. It can be used for:

  • Web development
  • Automation/scripting
  • Data analysis
  • Machine learning & AI
  • Game development
  • Desktop applications
  • DevOps tasks (e.g., writing CI/CD scripts, infrastructure automation)

1. High-Level Language:

• You don’t need to manage low-level details like memory management or hardware instructions.
• Python allows you to focus on problem-solving and logic, not technical complexity.

1. Object-Oriented and Versatile:

• Python supports multiple programming paradigms:

  • Object-Oriented Programming (OOP): Encourages code reuse and modularity.
  • *Functional Programming: * You can use functions as first-class citizens.
  • *Procedural Programming: * Write code step-by-step in logical order.

1. Easy Syntax and Readability:

• Python code looks almost like plain English, which improves code readability.
• This simplicity leads to faster development and easier debugging.

🌐 Popular Python Libraries & Frameworks

Python’s strength lies in its rich ecosystem of libraries and frameworks:

• Web Development:

  • Flask – Lightweight framework for small apps & APIs.
  • Django – Full-stack web framework with everything built-in.

• Data Science & Machine Learning:

  • Pandas – Data manipulation and analysis.
  • NumPy – Mathematical computing with arrays.
  • TensorFlow & Keras – Deep learning frameworks.

• DevOps & Automation:

  • Fabric & Ansible – Automate tasks and infrastructure.
  • Pytest – For writing unit and integration tests.
  • Subprocess, os, shutil – Built-in modules for file management and automation.

For DevOps professionals, Python is an important must-have skill as it is instrumental in helping to:

• Automate repetitive tasks (e.g., backups, deployments)
• Write scripts for CI/CD pipelines
• Manage cloud resources and infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Integrate monitoring tools and generate reports
• Build internal tools or APIs to streamline development workflows

** Install Python for various OS and Check Versions**

🔹 For Ubuntu/Debian-based systems:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3
python3 --version

🔹 For MacOS (with Homebrew):

brew install python
python3 --version

🔹 For Windows:

• Visit: https://www.python.org/downloads/

• Download and install the latest version.

• Open Command Prompt and run:
  

python --version