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How Python came into existence makes for an interesting story!
So, some 3 decades ago, there was this Dutch programmer named Guido Van Rossum. He was exceptionally talented and loved his work. But as luck would have it, he found himself doing nothing much during one Christmas.
During that period of ‘having not much to do,’ he thought of building something new.
It was 1991 when he first introduced the language to the real world, which means that we have been writing applications in this language for over 30 years!
In these 3 decades, Python has become massive. An increasing number of businesses have used it. Google, Amazon, Facebook, Netflix, Instagram, you name it, and chances are, they have used it.
Python is also very different from many other languages, especially its syntax. It does not look like traditional code; it looks like you have written English. The design philosophy of this language revolves around ‘readability'.
5 interesting facts about Python
- Python was a hobby project: Guido Van Rossum, a Dutch programmer, needed something to keep him busy during Christmas. He thought of building something new this time - more of a successor of ABC. Thus came a new programming language in our world.
- Python takes over the French language: In 2015, the primary schools in the UK preferred to teach kids Python programming over the French language.
- Python has been here since 1991:Python was released in 1991. This makes it an older language than Java, which was launched in 1995. If you take the time to count the number of years, Python is now more than 30 years old, and there is still no sign of slowing down.
- It does not require a compiler:Python does not require a compiler. It is an interpreted programming language, meaning you can execute the code when you write it. Also, developers need to write a few lines of code to build functionality, which is less than what other languages demand to build that functionality.
- Python gets its name from a British TV show:Pythons are snakes, too. However, many do not know that the creator of the Python programming language was a big fan of the popular comedy show Monty Python, and he borrowed the name from this show.
7 important Python development trends
1. Python in Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence
AI and ML are helping us build and transform what we once thought impossible.
These technologies are not just transforming businesses - they are transforming how ‘common folks’ go about their lives.
Ecommerce companies are embedding ML and AI capabilities to know all about their customers - to get the power to show their customers exactly what they need at the time when they need it.
This ‘one superpower’ gives them a ‘much-desired but mostly unfair leverage’ over their customers. They are selling more. And they are making more.
Ecommerce apps and brands are the only ones using ML and AI, though - nearly all businesses use these innovations in one way or another.
Python accelerates the very development lifecycle of AI and ML projects. Credit goes to numerous Python libraries, such as TensorFlow and PyTorch, which are increasingly enabling Python development companies to build more sophisticated and performance-driven AI/ML models and applications.
Backed by an active development community and frequently updated libraries, the dominance of Python in developing AI/ML applications will likely grow in 2024 and in the years to come.
2. Python for Web Development
With Python and Python-based frameworks, such as Django and Flask, developers can take their web apps from concept to compilation seamlessly and quickly.
The rise of such frameworks and an emphasis on asynchronous programming and architectural approaches such as microservices-based development is a good sign for the Python community. And eventually, it makes web development using Python a more seamless and rewarding experience for the developers.
3. Python in Data Science and Analytics
Data science and analytics are imperative for today’s digitally-driven businesses to generate critical insights from their data to inform decision-making across the org.
Data science and analytics teams, too, see immense potential in Python as a language to automate and speed up their projects. Python libraries, especially Pandas and NumPy, enable developers to build on the foundation that Python provides and generate value for stakeholders, including teams, leaders, partners, and customers.
In 2024 and years beyond, the significance of data science and analytics will only grow - and along with the growth in demand for data analytics capabilities, the demand for Python in Data Science applications and projects will continue to grow.
4. Cross-platform Development
Cross-platform compatibility of a digital product is crucial in this age of multiple operating systems and hundreds of devices,” Python excels in this space. And this is one of the reasons developers worldwide prefer Python for development.
Python developers tap into tools like PyInstaller and PyOxidizer to create apps that perform across operating systems (such as iOS and Android) and devices. In the future, Python communities and advocates can put in more effort and investments to further improve the cross-platform capabilities of Python.
5. Python for IoT and embedded systems
Developers in the IoT and embedded systems domains are also tapping into the potential of Python to develop new features and products in a more streamlined and automated manner. With projects like MicroPython and CircuitPython, IoT programmers can run Python on microcontrollers (microcomputers that are extensively used for a wide range of applications).
In the near future, we will likely see more advancements on this front, such as more seamless integration of Python development in edge computing.
The user-friendly syntax of this programming language also makes it a preferred choice for developers planning to build IoT applications.
6. Python for workflow automation
Automation empowers developers to hand off all those mind-numbing and repetitive tasks to the robots. And thus, they get more free time and attention to devote to the most important things on their to-do lists.
There’s so much developers can do with a programming language like Python to drive automation across all those business-critical workflows.
Whether it is interacting with APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), consolidating tasks, or organizing data, Python can have numerous use cases in automation. Also, as teams practice DevOps tools and technologies, Python emerges as a preferred language (thanks to its focus on readability and simplicity) for automating critical workflows such as deployment, configuration management, etc.
In addition to this, we can use Python for QA automation as well. There are frameworks and libraries, such as Behave Framework, Robot Framework, and Pytest Framework, which can be used to automate the software testing process. Besides these frameworks, what makes Python a preferred language for QA testing is its user-friendliness
7. Python in Quantum Computing
Quantum computing is a technology that has the potential to change our world. At its core, the technology harnesses the potential of quantum mechanics and helps scientists and data engineers solve complex problems that classical computers are not able to solve.
Quantum computing is still a relatively new phenomenon, but it's gaining traction across the world (because classical computers have been around for more than half a century.)
To further accelerate development in the field of quantum computing, Python is a brilliant choice. There are libraries like Qiskit that Python development companies can use to provide Pythonic interfaces to the quantum processors and further capture value from their development efforts.
A few final thoughts
Python is building on its vast ecosystem of libraries and developer communities. The new releases will further make it ‘more readable,’ ‘more beginner friendly,’ and ‘more apt for data science and machine learning projects.
At Kellton, too, we are doing our bit to use our Python development expertise and resources to help our clients succeed in their industries. Over the years, we have used Python - and several other programming languages and technologies, such as AI and ML - to ensure rapid web and mobile application development for our clients.
Whether you need an extended IT team to help you accelerate your development efforts or someone who could help you develop a next-generation digital product from scratch, we can help.
