NEWBIE: Confussed about Python!

[Max Adams]

Thanks, That was quick.

So there are libraries to access MySQL and MS Access?  I assume that only
the latter would work under windows. - Can these both be used together in
the same script.  From what you have said I see no reason why not - correct.

So it would be feasible for a client running Linux to connect to a NT web
server over port 80 and then using the python CGI script pull data from both
databases (say list tables in a MySQL db and a MS Acc DB [using ADO i
assume]).  Would this work?


Most of what you have said (although useful) is stuff i though was related
to perl.  How is python different to perl?  Are the two miles apart? - i'll
look through google but i would still appreciate any other input.


Like i said a very good and quick answer.  Thanks






"Steve Holden" <sholden at holdenweb.com> wrote in message
news:1zD08.16693$k87.1449672 at atlpnn01.usenetserver.com...
> "Max Adams" <RubberDucky703 at hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:glD08.46$Tu1.11667 at news1.cableinet.net...
> > Hello, i'm new to python although not new to programming in general - i
> have
> > programmed in C++/Delphi/VB extensively.
> >
> > I am looking at python and have been reading some documentation about it
> on
> > the web site python.org.
> > I have a few questions:
> >
> > 1)  Can python run on a web server, and does it provide the same
> > functionallity ASP and PHP do?
> >
> Yes, more and more respectively. Python can run as a simple CGI scripting
> language, it can also be installed as a Active Scripting language if you
> want to use it in ASP contexts, and it's a full general-purpose scripting
> language. With its web-oriented libraries it does everything you can do
with
> ASP or PHP (and, as I said, more).
>
> > 2)  I assume that when code is compiled by the interpreter it compiles
to
> an
> > "a.out" executable under linux and a "program1.exe" under windows - the
> > filenames are not important what i am trying to assertane is, is code
> > compiled to a executable file format, or does more need to be done with
> it.
> >
> Nope. By default *libraries* that are imported are converted into *.pyc
> files, which are coimpiled bytecodes. The interpreter has not facility to
> generate machine code.
>
> Various solutions arepossible to allow you to distribute Python programs:
> the two best-known are py2exe and Gordon McMillan's installer. Both allow
> you to build easy-to-install distributions of Python programs [the problem
> they overcome is making sure that the target system contains all necessary
> bits of the Python language system].
>
> > 3)  How can python be linked to databases such as Ms Access and MySQL?
> >
> Various driver modules are available conforming to the Python DB API
> (currently at version 2.0). Generally there is at least one module for
each
> of the better-known databases.
>
> There are also DBA-compliant ODBC modules for those database without
native
> drivers.
>
> Finally, on Windows platforms you can load the win32all extensions and use
> ADO to access databases with the necessary drivers.
>
> > 4)  What is python commonly used for?
> >
> Just about everything, from complex object-oriented web frameworks to
> scientific computing, stopping at all stations en route!
>
> >
> > I really appreciate your input on this.
> >
> > Sorry if these are elementary questions - hey we all have to start
> > somewhere!
> >
> Well, www.python.org would be your best starting-point. Lots of useful
links
> from there. Welcome to Python!
>
> regards
>  Steve
> --
> http://www.holdenweb.com/
>
>
>
>