Python Scripting Language

1. Python Scripting Language Presented by: Matthew Sparaco

2. What is a Scripting Language? • Wikipedia has an informative and detailed explanation, “A scripting language, script language or extension language is a programming language that allows control of one or more software applications. "Scripts" are distinct from the core code of the application, as they are usually written in a different language and are often created or at least modified by the end-user.[1] Scripts are often interpreted from source code or bytecode, whereas the applications they control are traditionally compiled to native machine code. Scripting languages are nearly always embedded in the applications they control.[2] • The name "script" is derived from the written script of the performing arts, in which dialogue is set down to be spoken by human actors. Early script languages were often called batch languages or job control languages. Such early scripting languages were created to shorten the traditional edit-compile-link-run process”.

3. What’s It Used For? • They can be used to create specialized GUI’s and forms that enhance the convenience of search engines (like our well-known Google). Also, web-based e-mails and e-commerce are all created through the used of scripting languages. According to searchwindevelopment.techtarget.com, “Many Web sites require that the user's browser be set to run scripts to take advantage of all the features of the site. In some cases, Web sites are practically useless unless the user's computer is set to run programs locally in a scripting language”. In a nut shell, you could say our current economy and every-day life-styles are all thanks towards scripting languages. Without them, we might as well be living in the Stone-Age. It makes one wonder how the world got by without them in the past.

4. Why Python • Python is largely based off of the scripting language of C++ and Java. Python has focused primarily to make the coding and executions themselves easier than its counterparts. Statements are terminated by end-of-line, and block structure is indicated by indentation. To those familiar with coding, Python programs resemble to that of pseudo-code. This makes it a basis and a must have for beginner programmers due to its extreme ease a difficulty when compared to C++ Java, Perl, and so forth. As explained before, Python is dynamically typed, so there isn’t need for variable declarations like C++ or Java. The only setback with trying to make Python easier to write is that it takes a hit in runtime. Python programs generally run slower than others like Java, but take much less time to develop. In general, Python programs are 3 to 5 times SHORTER than equivalent Java programs.

5. Python Compared to C++ and Java • Python supports the use of functions and classes but does not force it. Simple programs are made to be as simple as possible for the programmer. For example, consider the “Hello World'' program in Python: • print "Hello World!" • C++ requires this program to be wrapped in a function and preceded by a preprocessor directive: • #include <iostream.h> int main(){ • cout << "Hello World!"; } • In Java, the situation is even worse, as all code must be inside of a class: • public class helloWorld{ • public static void main(String [] args) { System.out.println("Hello World!"); }}

6. Support in the Community • Tribon Solutions in Maritime Industry which designs ship building processes from their very first concept to the finished ship had run into a problem. Shipyards try to lower cost by using as much standardized and parameter-driven designs as possible, and software vendors’ biggest problem is that the design principles are different at each yard due to factors like the type of ship, facilities, experience, and national regulations and standards. The solution was to make it easy for shipyards to develop their own functionality based on Tribon core technology. In order to archive this, Tribon had to create an API that was platform independent, easy to use and understand, and was extendable end embeddable. Of course, this led them to choose Python as their programming language. “During investigation of options, Python was discovered quite early when a member of the development team read about Python in a computer magazine. After some initial experimentation there were really no other contenders. Python had it all. It was a beautiful programming language that was extensible, embeddable, platform independent, and had no license cost. When it came to incorporate Python into the Tribon software, we found the integration to be quite easy and problem-free, and it was achieved with very little effort. The result of this merge between Tribon and Python was named Tribon Vitesse, and the first version of Python used was 1.2”.

7. Where’s It Going • Python is definitely leading the way for a reform in program languages. Although people are still used to Java or C++, it is well past the time that writing up programs should now be easier. Python’s language is incredibly easy to not only write up, but can be read and understood just as easily. The time difference in which it takes a Python program to be written up compared to an equivalent one in Java or C++ leaves no doubt in any programmer’s mind that Python is the new standard for programming languages. This will lead to new programming languages with even better performance and understanding ratings that can make a years worth of programming today be finished in just a month or two. As technology and computers are ever advancing, programming languages are the necessity to making them all work and thus will be used and needed for improvement for countless years to come.