Computing Resources in ESCI
Unix Software: Programming: Python
Description
Python is an interpreted, object oriented programming language.
Because it is simple and interpreted, it is often used as a
substitute for shell scripts, Perl, or TCL/TK programs.
Location
/usr/site/Python/. Contains binaries (executables), source code
(in C), and library code (in Python).
Commands
Typing python at the command prompt will open an
interactive python interpretation program where you can enter
lines of code one at a time. Files containing Python code can be
executed by typing python file with various options
as needed, described in the Python man page. Also, as
with other Unix scripts such as shell and Perl scripts, a Python
program may be made to appear as a standalone program by inserting
the line
#!/usr/bin/env python
at the very beginning of the file.
Documentation
The Python
Tutorial
The Python man page
If you are serious about learning how to program Python, the best
thing you can do would be to pick up a copy of "Programming
Python" by O'Reilly and Associates.
See Also
Perl (Practical Extraction and Reporting
Language)
TCL/TK
The Unix Shells
Questions? Comments? Please contact Mary Cochran.