Subject: FAQ: Python -- an object-oriented language
-Newsgroups: comp.lang.misc,comp.answers,news.answers
-Followup-to: comp.lang.misc
+Newsgroups: comp.lang.python,comp.answers,news.answers
+Followup-to: comp.lang.python
From: guido@cwi.nl (Guido van Rossum)
Reply-to: guido@cwi.nl (Guido van Rossum)
Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.Edu
Archive-name: python-faq/part1
-Version: 1.5
-Last-modified: 15 Feb 1994
+Version: 1.6
+Last-modified: 11 April 1994
This article contains answers to Frequently Asked Questions about
Python (an object-oriented interpreted programming language -- see
The latest version of this FAQ is available by anonymous ftp from
ftp.cwi.nl [192.16.184.180] in the directory /pub/python, with
filename python-FAQ. It will also be posted regularly to the
-newsgroups comp.answers and comp.lang.misc.
+newsgroups comp.answers and comp.lang.python.
Many FAQs, including this one, are available by anonymous ftp from
rtfm.mit.edu [18.70.0.209] in the directory pub/usenet/news.answers.
1.6. Q. Is there a book on Python, or will there be one out soon?
1.7. Q. Are there any published articles about Python that I can quote?
1.8. Q. How does the Python version numbering scheme work?
+ 1.9. Q. Are there other ftp sites that carry Python related material?
2. Python in the real world
2.1. Q. How many people are using Python?
3.5. Q. The python interpreter complains about options passed to a
script (after the script name).
3.6. Q. When building on the SGI, make tries to run python to create
- glmodule.c, but python hasn't been built or installed yet.
+ glmodule.c, but python hasn't been built or installed yet.
3.7. Q. Other trouble building Python 1.0.1 on platform X.
4. Programming in Python
A. Apart from being a computer wizard, I'm also a fan of "Monty
Python's Flying Circus" (a BBC comedy series from the seventies, in
-case you didn't know). It occurred to me one day that I needed a name
-that was short, unique, and slightly mysterious. And I happened to be
-reading some scripts from the series at the time... So then I decided
-to call my language Python. But Python is not a joke. And don't you
-associate it with dangerous reptiles either!
+the -- unlikely -- case you didn't know). It occurred to me one day
+that I needed a name that was short, unique, and slightly mysterious.
+And I happened to be reading some scripts from the series at the
+time... So then I decided to call my language Python. But Python is
+not a joke. And don't you associate it with dangerous reptiles
+either!
1.3. Q. How do I obtain a copy of the Python source?
A. The latest Python source distribution is always available by
anonymous ftp from ftp.cwi.nl [192.16.184.180] in the directory
-/pub/python, with filename python<version>.tar.Z. It is a compressed
-tar file containing the complete C source, LaTeX documentation, Python
-library modules, example programs, and several useful pieces of freely
-distributable software. This will compile and run out of the box on
-most UNIX platforms. Currently <version> is 1.0.1. (See section 7
-for non-UNIX information.)
+/pub/python, with filename python<version>.tar.Z. (In the future and
+on some archive sites the extension will be .gz, indicating use of
+gzip compression.) It is a compressed (gzip'ed if the extension is
+.gz) tar file containing the complete C source, LaTeX documentation,
+Python library modules, example programs, and several useful pieces of
+freely distributable software. This will compile and run out of the
+box on most UNIX platforms. At the time of writing, <version> is
+1.0.1. (See section 7 for non-UNIX information.)
1.4. Q. How do I get documentation on Python?
A. The latest Python documentation set is always available by
anonymous ftp from ftp.cwi.nl [192.16.184.180] in the directory
-/pub/python, with filename pythondoc-ps<version>.tar.Z. It is a
-compressed tar file containing PostScript files of the reference
-manual, the library manual, and the tutorial. Currently <version> is
-1.0.1. (Note that the library manual is the most important one of the
-set, as much of Python's power stems from the standard or built-in
-types, functions and modules, all of which are described here.)
-PostScript for a high-level description of Python is in the file
-nluug-paper.ps.
+/pub/python, with filename pythondoc-ps<version>.tar.Z. (Or .gz --
+see the previous question.) It is a compressed (or gzip'ed) tar file
+containing PostScript files of the reference manual, the library
+manual, and the tutorial. At the time of writing <version> is 1.0.1.
+Note that the library manual is the most important one of the set, as
+much of Python's power stems from the standard or built-in types,
+functions and modules, all of which are described here. PostScript
+for a high-level description of Python is in the file nluug-paper.ps.
The following sites keep mirrors of the Python distribution:
ftp.uu.net 192.48.96.9 /languages/python
ftp.wustl.edu 128.252.135.4 /graphics/graphics/sgi-stuff/python
ftp.funet.fi 128.214.6.100 /pub/languages/python (old?)
-ftp.fu-berlin.de 130.133.4.50 /pub/unix/languages/python (python* only)
+ftp.fu-berlin.de 130.133.4.50 /pub/unix/languages/python (*python* only)
-Or try archie on e.g. python1.0.1.tar.Z to locate the nearest copy of
-that version...
+Or try archie on e.g. python1.0 to locate the nearest copy of that
+version...
1.5. Q. Is there a newsgroup or mailing list devoted to Python?
-A. There is no Python newsgroup yet; if you want to post to the net
-about Python, use comp.lang.misc. There is a mailing list devoted to
-Python; send e-mail to python-list-request@cwi.nl to (un)subscribe. A
-Request For Discussion about create comp.lang.python has been posted
-to news.groups. So far it has not elicited any negative responses.
+A. There is a newsgroup, comp.lang.python, and a mailing list. The
+newsgroup and mailing list are gatewayed into each other -- if you can
+read news it is not necessary to subscribe to the mailing list. Send
+e-mail to python-list-request@cwi.nl to (un)subscribe to the mailing
+list.
1.6. Q. Is there a book on Python, or will there be one out soon?
added significant changes; in fact the changeover from 0.9.9 to 1.0.0
was the first time that either A or B changed!
+1.9. Q. Are there other ftp sites that carry Python related material?
+
+A. An interesting ftp site for Python users is ftp.markv.com
+(192.122.251.1); the directory pub/python contains a growing
+collection of interesting Python scripts. To submit a script for
+inclusion, place it together with a readme file (with extension
+.readme) in the publicly writable directory /incoming/python. This
+service is maintained by Lance Ellinghouse <lance@markv.com>.
+
+
2. Python in the real world
===========================
2.1. Q. How many people are using Python?
-A. I don't know, but at the last count there were at least 130
-addresses on the Python mailing list (several of which are local
-redistribution lists). I suspect that many users don't bother
-to subscribe to the list.
+A. I don't know, but the maximum number of simultaneous subscriptions
+to the Python mailing list before it was gatewayed into the newsgroup
+was about 180 (several of which were local redistribution lists). I
+believe that many active Python users don't bother to subscribe to the
+list, and now that there's a newsgroup the mailing list subscription
+is even less meaningful.
2.2. Q. Have any significant projects been done in Python?
A. Here at CWI (the home of Python), we have written a 20,000 line
authoring environment for transportable hypermedia presentations, a
-multimedia teleconferencing tool, as well as many smaller programs.
+5,000 line multimedia teleconferencing tool, as well as many many
+smaller programs.
The University of Virginia uses Python to control a virtual reality
engine. Contact: Matt Conway <conway@virginia.edu>.
Individuals at many other companies are using Python for
internal development (witness their contributions to the Python
-mailing list).
+mailing list or newsgroup).
Python has also been elected as an extension language by MADE, a
consortium supported by the European Committee's ESPRIT program and
Python; this is a subset of the distribution containing just those
file.
+Once you have installed the library, you need to point sys.path to it.
+Assuming the library is in C:\misc\python\lib, the following commands
+will point your Python interpreter to it (note the doubled backslashes
+-- you can also use single forward slashes instead):
+
+ >>> import sys
+ >>> sys.path.insert(0, 'C:\\misc\\python\\lib')
+ >>>
+
+For a more permanent effect, set the environment variable PYTHONPATH,
+as follows (talking to a DOS prompt):
+
+ C> SET PYTHONPATH=C:\misc\python\lib
+
7.6. Q. Where's the documentation for the Mac or PC version?
A. There isn't any. The documentation for the Unix version also
using Sigma Edit; import and test it in the interpreter; edit again in
Sigma Edit; then use the built-in function reload() to re-read the
imported module; etc.
+
+Regarding the same question for the PC, Kurt Wm. Hemr writes: "While
+anyone with a pulse could certainly figure out how to do the same on
+MS-Windows, I would recommend the NotGNU Emacs clone for MS-Windows.
+Not only can you easily resave and "reload()" from Python after making
+changes, but since WinNot auto-copies to the clipboard any text you
+select, you can simply select the entire procedure (function) which
+you changed in WinNot, switch to QWPython, and shift-ins to reenter
+the changed program unit."
projects / thirdparty / Python / cpython.git / commitdiff
