Python

Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented programming language. It is primarily used as a scripting language and often compared to Tcl, Perl, Scheme or even Java, but it is structurally much more similar to REXX, extremely so in fact, although the syntax is very different. Main advantage Python has over REXX is a simpler and better designed object system and a fairly good modern code library, while its main disadvantage is the lack of concepts such as parsing which are stronger in REXX and much stronger in NetRexx.

Python combines remarkable power with very clear syntax. It has modules, classes, exceptions, very high level dynamic data types, and dynamic typing. There are interfaces to many system calls and libraries, as well as to various windowing systems (X11, Motif, Tk, Mac, MFC). New built-in modules are easily written in C or C++. Python is also usable as an extension language for applications that need a programmable interface.

The Python implementation is portable: it runs on many brands of UNIX, on Windows, OS/2, Mac, Amiga, and many other platforms. If your favorite system isn't listed here, it may still be supported, if there's a C compiler for it. Ask around on news:comp.lang.python -- or just try compiling Python yourself.

The Python implementation is copyrighted but freely usable and distributable, even for commercial use.

Python libraries

• dbfread - Reads and converts .dbf database files - Open source - Current
• Libxml2 - XML parser - Open source - Current
• Libxslt - XSLT parser - Open source - Current

Foreign libraries with Python bindings

• Cairo - 2D graphics library - Open source - Current
• LibcURL - Internet URL (WWW, FTP, etc) access - Open Source - Current
• Libxml2 - Bindings for XML parser - Open source - Current
• Libxslt - Bindings for XSLT parser - Open source - Current
• LZ4 - Compression library - Open source - Current
• Pixman - Low level graphics library - Open source - Current
• Simple Directmedia Layer - Multimedia - Open Source - Current
• Snappy - Compression lib. - Open Source - Current

Python related utilities and test suites

• ANTLR - Parser generator - Runs on Java and generates Python 2 & 3 output code.
• Exuberant ctags - Creates index files out of Python source files - Open source - Current

Applications with a Python programming interface

• PostgreSQL - SQL relational database system - Open source - Current

OS/2 text & programmers editors with Python support

• Boxer - Contributed, requires a separate download
• FTE - Has support for syntax highlighting, code folding and syntax-aware autoindent. - Open source - Current
• jEdit - Java based editor - Python syntax highlighting built in - Current
• NEdit - XFree86 - Autoindent, autocomplete and syntax highlighting - Open source - Discontinued

Alternative interpreters

• Jython - Java based Python interpreter

Version

• Latest Version: Python v2.7.2 build: 2012-01-15 [1]

Links

• Python homepage

OS/2 ports

These sites provide some info on OS/2 ports:

• http://os2ports.smedley.id.au/index.php?page=python
• http://members.pcug.org.au/~andymac/python.html
• http://www.os2warp.org/~jrush/python_os2/
• http://www.sschwarzer.net/python/warpstock_europe_2001.html

Authors

• Port by Paul Smedley (Current mainatainer)
• Port by Andy MacIntyre
• Port by Jeff Rush (v1.5.2 and earlier)
• Port by Andrew Zabolotny (v1.5.2 - EMX+gcc)