Scope of Python

[Sid Singh]

Hi,

I have a question regarding the scope of Python when compared to a full fledged language like Java.
As per what i have know scripting languages are a bit restricted in their scope and so their usage is somewhat constrained.

Can Python be used for pretty much everything or there are things where Python should really be avoided.
Since i am a newbie in Python so please spare me if i am trying to snatch thin air .

Thanks

[Marco Schrank]

Hello,

imho you can use python for everything. Some fields make more sense, others make less sense.
I wouldn't implement a large scale equation solver in python, but rather in C or Fortran.
But you have the opportunity to use every java package with jython or you can port the crucial
parts with respect to performance to C/Fortran. Same works for IronPython and .net.
If you wanna see what is possible, have a look at numpy, scipy, matplotlib or sympy.
Those are more science related packages but you can find the same quality in other fields.
Python is easy but powerfull. Just compare the way Python deals with Reflection with the Java way
for example. Same holds for lists ...


Yours,
Marco

[chris webster]

There's a couple of free books available online at the Green Tea Press illustrating how Python can be used in specialist areas:

Think Complexity - "about complexity science, data structures and algorithms, intermediate programming in Python, and the philosophy of science".

Think Stats - "an introduction to Probability and Statistics for Python programmers".

I think both of these are based on/inspired by the free Python book How To Think Like A Computer Scientist.