A general description of Python
Python is a high-level general purpose programming language:
Because code is automatically compiled to byte code and executed, Python is
suitable for use as a scripting language, Web application implementation
language, etc.
Because Python can be extended in C and C++, Python can provide the speed
needed for even compute intensive tasks.
Because of its strong structuring constructs (nested code blocks, functions,
classes, modules, and packages) and its consistent use of objects and
objectoriented programming, Python enables us to write clear, logical
applications for small and large tasks.
Important features of Python:
Builtin high level data types: strings, lists, dictionaries, etc.
The usual control structures: if, ifelse, ifelifelse, while, plus a powerful
collection iterator (for).
Multiple levels of organizational structure: functions, classes, modules, and
packages. These assist in organizing code. An excellent and large example is the
Python standard library.
Compile on the fly to byte code Source code is compiled to byte code without a
separate compile step. Source code modules can also be "recompiled" to byte
code files.
Objectiveness Python provides a consistent way to use objects: everything is
an object. And, in Python it is easy to implement new object types (called classes
in objectoriented programming).
Extensions in C and C++ Extension modules and extension types can be written
by hand. There are also tools that help with this, for example, SWIG, sip, Pyrex.
Jython is a version of Python that "plays well with" Java. See: The Jython Project
http://www.jython.org/Project/.