Python is rapidly rising up the popularity ranks of programming languages. The TIOBE Index just listed Python as the second most popular programming language above the ever-popular Java. IEEE Spectrum lists it as #1. So what is all the hype?

‍Speed

Most developers today strive for a quick deliverable. With its high-level built-in data structures and dynamic typing and binding, Python leads to Rapid Application Development and a prototype often ahead of schedule. 

‍Readability

Python is quite easy to read largely because of its significant indentation. The syntax rules allow developers to express concepts without writing additional code, so developers do not need to provide the extra time and effort to maintain and update the software.

‍Adaptability

One of the most difficult aspects of software development is that there are often many different languages at play within a single project. However, Python works with multiple programming paradigms- it is compatible with almost all major platforms and systems. Since Python is an interpreted programming language, it allows the same code on multiple platforms without recompilation.

‍Community

Longtime software engineer, Tim Peters, wrote the “Zen of Python” in 2004. Among the 19 guiding principles are important ideas such as:

• Beautiful is better than ugly.
• Explicit is better than implicit.
• Simple is better than complex.
• Complex is better than complicated.
• Flat is better than nested.
• Sparse is better than dense.

Peters’ post is a symbol of the community-aspect of Python. Developers can work with others to truly live out this “zen” experience.

Reach out to me at https://solwey.com/book/ if you have any other thoughts on what makes Python so popular.