History of Computers - Python
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Python is a programming language developed by Guido van Rossum in 1991. This high-level programming language's central design concept is clarity of syntax.
Overview
The driving force behind Python's inception was Rossum's departure from a team working on a somewhat similar programming language, ABC. This language also attempted to be clear in syntax as opposed to the somewhat confusing aspects of other languages; however, a difference of opinion emerged when the group behind the project "assumed that the users had no prior computer experience (or were willing to forget it)."[1] When Rossum first started developing the language Python, he began with similar core principles in mind, but kept intact the conventional terminology used by programmers around the world.
Syntax
One of the largest differences between Python and other programming languages is its use of whitespace indentation to delimit blocks, as opposed to curly brackets or keywords which are used by other languages. Additionally, Python attempts to phase out many of the symbols used in programming in favor of common English. In Rossum's view, this helps the code be debugged faster due to the increased ease of reading.
Significance
Although Python has yet to be implemented in as numerous ways as other programming languages such as Java and C#, Python remains an innovator because of what some people call "The Zen of Python." [2] This ease of access allows programs to be created and debugged with (relative) ease. Additionally, the fact that Python is open-source allows for on-the-fly modification if the language does not specifically fulfill one's needs.
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