Ch1. Python Introduction

What is Python?

Imagine that if programming languages were a group of people, Python would be the friend who speaks most concisely and is easiest to get along with. It was created by Dutch programmer Guido van Rossum in 1991, named after the British comedy troupe Monty Python (not the snake 🐍, though its logo does feature two snakes).

Python's core philosophy can be summarized in one phrase: "Life is short, you need Python."

Why Learn Python?

• Beginner-friendly — Syntax is close to natural language, no curly braces {}; uses indentation instead, code reads like English prose
• Widely used — From websites to AI, from data analysis to automation scripts, Python is everywhere
• Huge community — Got a question? There are hundreds of thousands of Python Q&As on Stack Overflow
• Great job prospects — Python developer demand consistently ranks in the top 3 of programming language charts
• Competitive salaries — Average monthly salary for Python developers is 15K-35K+, even higher for AI roles

Python Application Domains

Domain	Typical Applications	Notable Cases
🌐 Web Development	Website backends, API services	Instagram, Pinterest, Spotify
🤖 Artificial Intelligence	Machine learning, deep learning, NLP	ChatGPT training frameworks, AlphaGo
📊 Data Analysis	Data cleaning, visualization, BI	Netflix recommendation system
🔧 Automation	Office automation, DevOps scripts, web scraping	Batch Excel processing, automated testing
🎮 Game Development	Game scripting, indie games	Civilization 4, Battlefield 2 scripts
📱 Embedded	IoT, Raspberry Pi development	Smart home control

Version Choice: Python 2 or Python 3?

The answer is simple: Choose Python 3!

Python 2 officially stopped maintenance on January 1, 2020. All new projects should use Python 3. The latest stable version is Python 3.12+, and all code in this guide is written based on Python 3.10+ syntax.

💡 Tip: 💡 Quick tip: Type python3 --version in your terminal to check the currently installed Python 3 version. If your system comes with Python 2, remember to use the python3 command instead of python.