Chapter 11: Network Programming in Python

 < Day Day Up > 



Python Language Overview

In this chapter, we investigate network programming in the popular scripting language Python. The Python language is a very interesting object-oriented, interpreted scripting language that’s used in a number of different types of applications. Python continues to evolve and includes a number of classes for network programming. Additionally, Python provides the ability to extend the interpreter with new modules that look just like the native modules provided by the base interpreter. The Python interpreter can also be embedded within an existing application, thus providing internal Python scripting capabilities. All code for this chapter can be found on the companion CD-ROM at /software/ch11.

One of Python’s most interesting features is that it’s interactive. By starting the Python shell, applications can be built through experimentation, simplifying the development of both simple and complex applications.

Origin of the Python Language

The Python language began as a Christmas holiday project in 1989 by Guido Van Rossum. Van Rossum had been working in the Amoeba distributed operating system group at CWI (Centrum voor Wiskunde en Informatica). He wanted a language to perform system administration in Amoeba, and using C or Bourne Shell scripts didn’t seem all that appealing. By early 1991, Van Rossum had an initial implementation and posted the language to alt.sources on USENET. Today, Python has become one of the most popular of the object-oriented scripting languages.



 < Day Day Up > 



BSD Sockets Programming from a Multi-Language Perspective
Network Programming for Microsoft Windows , Second Edition (Microsoft Programming Series)
ISBN: 1584502681
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 225
Authors: Jim Ohlund

flylib.com © 2008-2017.
If you may any questions please contact us: flylib@qtcs.net