Introduction to Python Programming

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Questions and Answers

Which programming paradigms does Python support?

  • Procedural programming only
  • Object-oriented and procedural programming only
  • Structured, object-oriented, and functional programming (correct)
  • Object-oriented programming only

What is the significance of Python's standard library being described as 'batteries included'?

  • It suggests Python is energy-efficient compared to other languages.
  • It implies that additional libraries are not needed for most projects.
  • It refers to Python's ability to be easily integrated with hardware components.
  • It means Python has a comprehensive set of tools and modules readily available. (correct)

What was Guido van Rossum's title within the Python community before his 'permanent vacation'?

  • Chief Architect of Python
  • Python Steering Council President
  • Benevolent Dictator For Life (BDFL) (correct)
  • Supreme Commander of Python

Which statement accurately describes the relationship between Python 2 and Python 3?

<p>Python 3 introduced significant changes that broke backward compatibility with Python 2. (B)</p>
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What is the Python Package Index (PyPI)?

<p>The official repository for third-party Python software packages. (A)</p>
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What is the primary function of a Python Enhancement Proposal (PEP)?

<p>To outline proposed new features, design decisions, and gather community input for Python. (C)</p>
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What is the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) in CPython, and how does Python 3.13 attempt to address its limitations?

<p>The GIL is a mechanism ensuring only one thread executes Python bytecode at a time; Python 3.13 introduces an experimental free-threaded build to disable it. (A)</p>
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What significant change is planned for Python 3.15 regarding text encoding?

<p>Python 3.15 will make UTF-8 mode the default encoding. (A)</p>
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Why is Python often referred to as a 'glue language'?

<p>Because it can integrate components written in other languages. (B)</p>
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What is 'duck typing' in Python?

<p>A style of dynamic typing where an object's suitability is determined by its methods and properties, rather than its type. (D)</p>
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What is a significant difference in how Python handles Boolean expressions with multiple equality relations compared to C-derived languages?

<p>Python evaluates multiple equality relations consistently with mathematical notation, while C-derived languages may interpret them differently. (B)</p>
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What is the purpose of the round to even method used in Python 3 for tie-breaking in rounding operations?

<p>To round to the nearest even integer to avoid statistical bias. (A)</p>
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Which modules in Python's standard library support functional programming?

<p>itertools and functools (C)</p>
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What are dunder methods in Python?

<p>Methods that allow user-defined classes to modify how they are handled by native operations. (C)</p>
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What is the significance of the Zen of Python (PEP 20)?

<p>It summarizes the core philosophy and guiding principles behind Python's design. (B)</p>
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How does Python handle memory management?

<p>Combination of reference counting and a cycle-detecting garbage collector. (D)</p>
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What mechanism does Python use to delimit code blocks?

<p>Whitespace indentation (A)</p>
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What is the purpose of the read–eval–print loop (REPL) in Python?

<p>To serve as a command-line interpreter, allowing users to execute statements sequentially and receive immediate results. (C)</p>
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Which of the following best describes the difference between expressions and statements in Python?

<p>Expressions can be part of a statement, but statements cannot be part of an expression. (B)</p>
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How has Python addressed security concerns related to digital verification of CPython artifacts?

<p>By transitioning to Sigstore digital verification signatures and phasing out PGP. (C)</p>
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Flashcards

What is Python?

A dynamically type-checked and garbage-collected language supporting multiple programming paradigms.

Python's origin

Started by Guido van Rossum in the late 1980s, first released in 1991.

Python 3.0

A major revision released in 2008, not completely backward-compatible.

Python 2.7.18

The last release of Python 2, released in 2020.

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BDFL

Van Rossum's title reflecting his role as Python's chief decision-maker.

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Python 2.0

Released in 2000, introducing features like list comprehensions and Unicode support.

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Free-threaded build mode

Allows multiple threads to run Python bytecode simultaneously.

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Python Memory Management

Uses dynamic typing and automatic memory management.

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itertools and functools

Functions that implement functional tools borrowed from Haskell and Standard ML.

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Zen of Python

Python's core philosophy, containing aphorisms guiding its design.

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Python's coding philosophy

The principle of 'one-- and preferably only one -- obvious way to do it'.

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Pythonic code

Using Python idioms to write readable and fluent code.

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Indentation in Python

Python uses whitespace indentation to define code blocks.

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Variable name

A generic reference holder without a fixed data type in Python.

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Methods of objects

Functions attached to the object's class.

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Python's duck typing

Fails at usage time, indicating an inappropriate type.

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round() function

Built-in function for rounding a float to the nearest integer.

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// operator

The operator for floor division in Python.

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Python Enhancement Proposal (PEP)

Enhancement Proposals are the primary mechanism for proposing new features.

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Origin of Python's name

Name derived from the British comedy group Monty Python.

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Study Notes

  • Python is dynamically type-checked and garbage-collected, supporting structured, object-oriented, and functional programming paradigms.
  • It is often called a "batteries included" language due to its comprehensive standard library.
  • Guido van Rossum started Python in the late 1980s as a successor to the ABC programming language, releasing it in 1991 as Python 0.9.0.
  • Python 2.0 was released in 2000, and Python 3.0, a major, non-backward-compatible revision, was released in 2008.
  • Python 2.7.18, released in 2020, was the last release of Python 2.
  • Python consistently ranks among the most popular programming languages and is widely used in machine learning.
  • Van Rossum worked on Python at Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) in the Netherlands, inspired by SETL and designed for exception handling and Amoeba OS interfacing.
  • He was the lead developer until July 12, 2018, known as the "benevolent dictator for life" (BDFL).
  • In January 2019, active core developers elected a five-member Steering Council to lead the project.
  • The name Python comes from the British comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus.
  • Python 2.0, released on October 16, 2000, introduced list comprehensions, cycle-detecting garbage collection, reference counting, and Unicode support.
  • Python 2.7's end-of-life was initially set for 2015 but was postponed to 2020; it no longer receives security patches or updates.
  • PyPy, an unofficial Python implementation, continues to support Python 2 (2.7.18+) with backported security updates.
  • Python 3.0, released on December 3, 2008, included new semantics and syntax changes.
  • Releases since Python 3.5 have added syntax and removed outdated modules, with minor semantic changes.
  • Security updates were expedited in 2021 and twice in 2022.
  • In 2023, versions 3.8.20 through 3.12.6, plus 2.7, had remote code execution and web-cache poisoning vulnerabilities fixed.
  • Python 3.13 introduces more syntax for types, a new interactive interpreter (REPL) with multi-line editing and color support, and an incremental garbage collector.
  • Python 3.13 introduces an experimental just-in-time (JIT) compiler and an experimental free-threaded build mode (disabling the GIL).
  • Python 3.13 includes new semantics, bug fixes, and the removal of deprecated classes, functions, methods, and outdated modules.
  • The old implementation of locals() and frame.f_locals was slow and buggy.
  • The experimental free-threaded build mode in Python 3.13 disables the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL), allowing multiple threads to run Python bytecode simultaneously.
  • PEP 703 introduces this optional build, enabling better usage of multi-core CPUs.
  • Some standard library modules and deprecated classes/functions/methods will be removed in Python 3.15 or 3.16.
  • Python 3.11 adds Sigstore digital verification signatures for all CPython artifacts and drops PGP in 3.14.
  • Python 3.14 has continued to work as it did before
  • Python 3.15 will "Make UTF-8 mode default"
  • Python supports object-oriented and structured programming, with features for functional and aspect-oriented programming.
  • It is often called a 'glue language' for its ability to integrate components written in other languages.
  • Python uses dynamic typing and a combination of reference counting and a cycle-detecting garbage collector for memory management.
  • Dynamic name resolution (late binding) binds method and variable names during program execution.
  • Python includes filter, map, and reduce functions; list comprehensions, dictionaries, sets, and generator expressions.
  • The itertools and functools modules implement functional tools borrowed from Haskell and Standard ML.
  • Python's core philosophy is summarized in the Zen of Python (PEP 20).
  • Python was designed to be highly extensible via modules.
  • Van Rossum's vision involved a small core language, a large standard library, and an easily extensible interpreter.
  • Python aims for simpler syntax and grammar while offering developers coding methodology choices.
  • Python avoids premature optimization and rejects patches to non-critical parts of CPython that marginally increase speed at the expense of clarity.
  • Execution speed can be improved using extension modules in languages like C or a just-in-time compiler like PyPy.
  • Python's developers aim for the language to be fun to use.
  • Pythonic code uses Python idioms well and conforms to Python's minimalist philosophy and emphasis on readability.
  • Python is meant to be an easily readable language with visually uncluttered formatting.
  • Python uses whitespace indentation to delimit blocks, making the program's visual structure match its semantic structure (off-side rule).
  • The recommended indent size is four spaces.
  • Variables may be rebound to any object at any time, as a variable is just a reference to an object and not itself of any particular type.
  • Python does not support tail call optimization or first-class continuations.
  • From Python 2.5 onward, data can be passed back into a generator function; from version 3.3, it can be passed through multiple stack levels.
  • In Python, there is a rigid distinction between expressions and statements.
  • Methods of objects are functions attached to the object's class
  • Python methods have an explicit self parameter to access instance data.
  • Python also provides dunder methods that allow user-defined classes to modify how they are handled by native operations.
  • Python uses duck typing.
  • Python is strongly typed, forbidding poorly defined operations rather than quietly attempting to interpret them.
  • Programmers can define their own types using classes, often for object-oriented programming.
  • New instances of classes are constructed by calling the class.
  • Python supports optional type annotations, which external tools like mypy can use to catch errors and mypyc uses for optimization.
  • Python includes conventional symbols for arithmetic operators (+, -, *, /), the floor-division operator //, and the modulo operator %.
  • It also offers the ** symbol for exponentiation and the matrix-multiplication operator @.
  • Division between integers produces floating-point results.
  • Python 3 uses the round to even method for tie-breaking.
  • Python allows Boolean expressions that contain multiple equality relations.
  • Python uses arbitrary-precision arithmetic for all integer operations.
  • The Decimal type/class in the decimal module provides decimal floating-point numbers to a pre-defined arbitrary precision with several rounding modes.
  • The Fraction class in the fractions module provides arbitrary precision for rational numbers.
  • Python is used for scientific scripting in tasks such as numerical data processing and manipulation.
  • Functions are created using the def keyword with the function name and required parameters.
  • You can assign a default value to a function parameter if no actual value is provided at run time.
  • Python's standard library supports formats/protocols like MIME and HTTP and provides modules for GUIs, database connections, pseudorandom numbers, arbitrary-precision decimals, regex, and unit testing.
  • Most of the standard library is cross-platform Python code, requiring minimal alteration for variant implementations.
  • The Python Package Index (PyPI) contains over 614,339 packages.
  • Most Python implementations (including CPython) include a read–eval–print loop (REPL).
  • Python is bundled with the IDLE IDE, and standard desktop IDEs include PyCharm, IntelliJ Idea, and Visual Studio Code.
  • All current Python versions (since 3.7) support operating systems with multi-threading support.
  • Alternative implementations have slightly different semantics.
  • There are several compilers/transpilers to high-level object languages.
  • Python's performance can be optimized using different strategies or tools.
  • Python Enhancement Proposals (PEPs) are the primary mechanism for proposing new features, collecting community input, and documenting design decisions.
  • Python coding style is covered in PEP 8.
  • The mailing list python-dev is the primary forum for the language's development.
  • All issues and discussions were migrated to GitHub in 2022.
  • Development originally took place on a self-hosted source-code repository running Mercurial, until Python moved to GitHub in January 2017.
  • CPython's public releases come in three types, distinguished by which part of the version number is incremented: major, minor, and micro.
  • Python's development team monitors the code's state by running a large unit test suite during development.
  • The major academic conference on Python is PyCon, and there are special mentoring programs like PyLadies.
  • Python 3.12 dropped outdated modules.
  • Tools that can generate documentation for Python API include pydoc, Sphinx, Pdoc and its forks, Doxygen, etc.
  • Python's name is derived from Monty Python, and references frequently appear in Python code and culture.
  • Users of Python are sometimes referred to as "Pythonistas."
  • The prefix Py- indicates something related to Python (e.g., Pygame, PyQt, PyGTK, PyPy).
  • Large organizations using Python include Wikipedia, Google, Yahoo!, CERN, NASA, Facebook, Amazon, Instagram, and Spotify.
  • Reddit was written mostly in Python.
  • Organizations partially using Python include Discord and Baidu.
  • Python can serve as a scripting language for web applications via mod_wsgi for Apache.
  • Web frameworks like Django, Pylons, Pyramid, web2py, Tornado, Flask, Bottle, and Zope support developers.
  • Pyjs and IronPython can develop the client-side of Ajax-based applications.
  • SQLAlchemy can map data to a relational database.
  • Twisted is a framework for programming computer communications used by Dropbox, among others.
  • Libraries like NumPy, SciPy, and Matplotlib facilitate scientific computing, with specialized libraries like Biopython and Astropy providing domain-specific functionality.
  • SageMath is a computer algebra system with a notebook interface programmable in Python.
  • OpenCV has Python bindings for computer vision and image processing.
  • Python is used in artificial intelligence and machine learning, with libraries like TensorFlow, Keras, Pytorch, scikit-learn, and ProbLog.
  • Python, with Prolog, supports AI applications, with Prolog offering knowledge representation and reasoning capabilities.
  • The Natlog system, implemented in Python, uses Definite Clause Grammars (DCGs) as prompt generators for text-to-text generators like GPT3.
  • Python is embedded in many software products as a scripting language.
  • Esri promotes Python for writing scripts in ArcGIS.
  • Python has been used in several video games and adopted as the primary language in Google App Engine.
  • Many operating systems include Python as a standard component and can be used from the command line (terminal).
  • Many Linux distributions utilize installers written in Python.
  • Python is used extensively in the information security industry, including exploit development.
  • Sugar software for the One Laptop per Child XO is written in Python.
  • The Raspberry Pi project has adopted Python as its main user-programming language.
  • LibreOffice includes Python and intends to replace Java with Python.
  • Python's development practices have been emulated by other languages like Tcl, Erlang, and Swift.

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