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kennethreitz merged 3 commits into from
Apr 27, 2012
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Introduction #129

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caf2174
done with docs
jabagawee Apr 25, 2012
50cd751
done with introduction
jabagawee Apr 25, 2012
6086f16
Merge branch 'release/intro'
jabagawee Apr 25, 2012
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2 changes: 2 additions & 0 deletions docs/intro/community.rst
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.. _the_community:

The Community
=============

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51 changes: 50 additions & 1 deletion docs/intro/duction.rst
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Introduction
============

.. todo:: write a general blurb introducing the Python language
From the `official Python website <http://python.org/about/>`_:

Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language similar
to Tcl, Perl, Ruby, Scheme, or Java. Some of its main key features
include:

* very clear, readable syntax

Python's philosophy focuses on readability, from code blocks
delineated with significant whitespace to intuitive keywords in
place of inscrutable punctuation

* extensive standard libraries and third party modules for virtually
any task

Python is sometimes described with the words "batteries included"
for its extensive
`stanadard library <http://docs.python.org/library/>`_, which can
includes modules for regular expressions, file IO, fraction handling,
object serialization, and much more.

Additionally, the
`Python Package Index <http://pypi.python.org/pypi/>`_ is available
for users to submit their packages for widespread use, similar to
Perl's `CPAN <http://www.cpan.org>`_. There is a thriving community
of very powerful Python frameworks and tools like
the `Django <http://www.djangoproject.com>`_ web framework and the
`NumPy <http://numpy.scipy.org>`_ set of math routines.

* integration with other systems

Python can integrate with `Java libraries <http://www.jython.org>`_,
enabling it to be used with the rich Java environment that corporate
programmers are used to. It can also be
`extended by C or C++ modules <http://docs.python.org/extending/>`_
when speed is of the essence.

* ubiquity on computers

Python is available on Windows, \*nix, and Mac. It runs wherever the
Java virtual machine runs, and the reference implementation CPython
can help bring Python to wherever there is a working C compiler.

* friendly community

Python has a vibrant and large :ref:`community <the-community>`
which maintains wikis, conferences, countless repositories,
mailing lists, IRC channels, and so much more. Heck, the Python
community is even helping to write this guide!


.. _about-ref:

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