Why Python is a Great Language to Learn?

Sofia Inchausti
NicaSource
Published in
4 min readAug 9, 2022

Let me start by introducing you to Python. In recent years, Python’s popularity has grown because it combines remarkable power with obvious syntax. It is an interpreted, interactive language that supports multiple programming paradigms (object-oriented, functional, procedural). Python’s resourceful collection includes modules, exceptions, high-level dynamic data types, and classes.

In 1989, Van Rossum, the author of Python, started working on this general-purpose programming language. When he began implementing it, he was also reading the published scripts from “Monty Python’s Flying Circus,” a BBC comedy series from the 1970s. He thought he needed a short, unique, and slightly mysterious name, so he called the language Python.

Advantages of Learning Python

Python is a general-purpose language which means that it can be used to create various programs and isn’t specialized for any specific problems. It is commonly used to build websites and software, automate tasks, and conduct data analysis. Here are some of the main advantages I think this language provides:

● Easy to Read, Learn and Write: Python uses English-like syntax. This makes it simple to read and understand the code. It is easy to pick up and learn as it needs fewer lines of code to perform tasks compared to other major languages like C, C++, and Java.

● Improved Productivity: Developers don’t need to spend too much time understanding this programming language’s syntax or behavior.

● Interpreted Language: It’s an interpreted language, meaning Python directly executes the code line by line. In case of any errors, it stops further execution and reports it back.

● Dynamically Typed: Python doesn’t know anything about a given variable’s type until we run the code. It automatically assigns the data type during execution. The programmer must not worry about declaring the variables or their types.

● Free and Open-Source: Python comes under the OSI-approved open-source license. This makes it free to use and distribute. You can download the source code, modify it, and even distribute your version of Python.

● Vast Library Support: The standard library of Python is enormous. You can find almost all the functions needed for whatever your task is. So, you don’t have to depend on external libraries.

Beginner students might benefit from starting their coding trajectory by learning Python. Its syntax is simple and consistent; it disposes of an extensive standard library. Most importantly, it allows students to concentrate on crucial programming skills, like problem decomposition and data type design. With Python, students can quickly introduce basic concepts, such as loops and procedures.

When can you put your Python knowledge to use?

You’ll undoubtedly be amazed to realize how comprehensive the fields in which Python is adopted. Here are some of the most popular:

- Web and internet development: It offers an abundance of choices for web development: frameworks, such as Django and Pyramid; micro-frameworks, such as Flask and Bottle and advanced content management systems, such as Plone and Django CMS.

- Scientific Numeric: Python is widely used in scientific and numeric computing. Both SciPy and Pandas are good examples of scientific computation libraries.

- Education: Python is an excellent option for teaching introductory-level programming and more advanced skills. There are plenty of resources and a vast bibliography if one is interested in learning it. Among some of the most recommended books we have are: “How to Think Like a Computer Scientist: Learning with Python,” “Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science,” and “Practical Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science Using Python 3.6”.

- Desktop GUIs: The Tk GUI library is included in most Python binary distributions.

- Software Development: Python is often used as a support language for software developers, but it is also a valuable tool for control and management, testing, and many other usages.

- Business Applications: Python is also applied to build ERP and e-commerce systems.

Learning Python

Whether you are learning Python as a complete beginner, or if you already have some experience with coding and want to up skill for better career prospects, here are some points to take into account:

  • The “BeginnersGuide/NonProgrammers” provides a list of suitable tutorials for inexperienced developers and students who have never programmed before.
  • If English is not your native language, all these tutorials are already available in various languages.
  • Python’s documentation offers a “Frequently Asked Question” list, and there is also a channel to get aid from “real people” when the official page provides insufficient information. Developers may report issues on Bug Tracker or GitHub issue tracker.

Some places to learn Python for free or paying where you can take courses, tutorials, training classes, or even just practice coding

The official page offers quizzes and exercises if you’d like to evaluate your knowledge after studying. You might also want to check your performance on Pythonchecker.com which is an online educative tool to rate your Python style (with dynamic score computation and hints).

Do you still have doubts?

One of the greatest challenges if you are trying to learn how to code is dealing with frustration. It can seem like you have done everything right, but your code insists on not working.

Python was of immense support when I had to take my first steps as a developer. The code was much easier to interpret and solving my first bugs was away less traumatic. Besides that, Python is a must for whoever wants to engage in some of the most fashionable IT areas (Machine Learning, Data Science, and Cybersecurity among others).

It is, without any doubt, one of the most versatile and resourceful languages of our times. What are you waiting for to dive into it?

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