What does Python offer?

[news]

Hello Solosnake,

You wrote:

> What is unique or special about Python?

The following has a number of links to articles describing what is special
about Python: http://www.python.org/doc/Intros.html

My favorite among these is Eric Raymond's "Why Python?" You should
definitely read it.

Having said that, here are some things I like about Python in no particular
order. First, it uses high level data abstractions: lists, dictionaries,
classes, and modules. Moreover, it implements these in an extremely clean
way with an elegant syntax. The language is remarkably free of quirks one
has to work around, which means one can spend more time working on the
problem at hand and far less struggling with the language. Python does not
overload the programmer with feature upon feature. Instead, it gives the
programmer the minimal number of powerful features needed to do make Pythong
a powerful expressive language. As a result, it is remarkably easy to learn
and to keep in one's head. It is supported by a huge community, which means
there are libraries for almost anything you'd want to do. At the same time,
its evolution is directed by a "benevolent dictator," Guido van Rossum,
which means you have only one implementation to target. The design of Python
is modular, which means it is easy to assemble projects from disparate parts
without getting name clashes (which is good, considering the huge number of
libraries out there). It is an interpreted dynamic language; this means you
can prototype code quickly (you don't even need to declare variables) and
see the results. At the same time, it is designed to easily work with C and
C++ modules, which means you can rewrite things in those languages where
speed of execution is more important than speed of design. Finally, it has
that difficult-to-define quality of good taste; it is a pleasure to code in.

> Why would it be useful to a games programmer?

Obviously you couldn't code an entire real-time video game in Python as it's
an interpreted language. However, Python is a fantastic "glue language." You
could write lower level routines in C or C++, then call those routines in
Python scripts. This would make it far easier to experiment with different
designs or AI strategies, even if you decided not to use Python at all in
the final product. I've never done any serious games programming, so I'm
sure there are many more uses you'll discover.

> Could it be used for allowing users to customize games, eg reprogramming
AI

> bots etc?

Definitely. I would imagine that most users would prefer a simplified
macro-language rather than a full featured programming language. However, of
all the scripting languages I've heard of, I think Python would be the
easiest for end users.

--Rick

"Solosnake" <solosnake at solosnake.without_this.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in
message news:ad216r$lol$1 at news8.svr.pol.co.uk...
> Hello
>
> I have beome curious about Python after playing a game called 'Severance -
> Blade of Darkness', which uses python scripts. I know very little about
the
> language. I am a C++ programmer, and would like to ask the Python
community
> :
>
> What is unique or special about Python?
> Why would it be useful to a games programmer?
> Could it be used for allowing users to customize games, eg reprogramming
AI
> bots etc?
>
> Thanks for all answers
>
> Dáire
>
>
>
>