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Python is an easy to learn, powerful programming language. It has efficient
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high-level data structures and a simple but effective approach to
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object-oriented programming. Python's elegant syntax and dynamic typing,
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together with its interpreted nature, make it an ideal language for scripting
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and rapid application development in many areas on most platforms.
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The Python interpreter and the extensive standard library are freely available
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in source or binary form for all major platforms from the Python Web site,
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http://www.python.org/, and may be freely distributed. The same site also
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contains distributions of and pointers to many free third party Python modules,
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programs and tools, and additional documentation.
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The Python interpreter is easily extended with new functions and data types
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implemented in C or C++ (or other languages callable from C). Python is also
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suitable as an extension language for customizable applications.
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This tutorial introduces the reader informally to the basic concepts and
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features of the Python language and system. It helps to have a Python
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interpreter handy for hands-on experience, but all examples are self-contained,
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so the tutorial can be read off-line as well.
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For a description of standard objects and modules, see the Python Library
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Reference document. The Python Reference Manual gives a more formal definition
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of the language. To write extensions in C or C++, read Extending and Embedding
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the Python Interpreter and Python/C API Reference. There are also several books
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covering Python in depth.
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This tutorial does not attempt to be comprehensive and cover every single
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feature, or even every commonly used feature. Instead, it introduces many of
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Python's most noteworthy features, and will give you a good idea of the
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language's flavor and style. After reading it, you will be able to read and
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write Python modules and programs, and you will be ready to learn more about the
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various Python library modules described in the Python Library Reference.
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The :ref:`glossary` is also worth going through.