Python is a widely used general-purpose, high-level programming language created by Guido van Rossum in 1991. It was primarily developed to improve the readability of code, allowing developers to write codes in fewer lines.
Who Invented Python?
Python was created by Guido van Rossum, a Dutch programmer, in the late 1980s. He was an employee at Centrum Wickenden & Informatica in the Netherlands. His goal was to create an advanced scripting language based on ABC that was easy to understand and could be used and added to easily. The initial public release, Python 0.9.0, was published in February 1991.
What is the History of Python?
Van Rossum started developing Python in December of 1989 with the goal of creating a computer programming language that has:
- Simple and precise syntax
- Straightforward data structures
- Dynamic typing and allocation of memory
- Standard library that serves a wide range of needs
The first public version, Python 0.9.0, was released in February 1991, and it was the first to offer functions, modules, exception handling, and dynamic typing – making it possible for users to program what they wanted with ease.
Objectives of Development of Python
Throughout the development phase, Van Rossum made several important choices which affected the design of Python:
- Interpreted Programming Language: Python does not need compilation like languages like C or Java, and that makes coding and debugging much easier.
- Whitespace is Important: Python lets its users define indentation as a part of the syntax; this helps improve the organization of code and is more readable.
- Extensibility: Other languages like C can easily be integrated into Python, giving it and the programmers wider capabilities.
- Object-Oriented and Procedural: Python can incorporate measures from different programming paradigms like procedural and object-oriented programming.
- Community Focused Development: Van Rossum made Python open source from the very beginning, which has made it easier for the community to contribute without any restrictions.
Why is Python called Python?
In the late 1980s, while developing the language, Guido van Rossum chose the name “Python.” It is often thought that the word ‘python’ refers to the snake. However, it refers to the British sitcom, ‘Monty Python’s Flying Circus.’
Why Did Van Rossum Choose This Name?
- Good wordplay: Van Rossum was a fan of the overall British witty comedy which goes beyond the traditional standup humour of Monty Python.
- Mystery: Van Rossum wanted a name that had a certain level of mystery around it as opposed to being overly technical or boring.
- Freedom: Monty Python, the sitcom, was known for not censoring the content they produced, and this aligns with the entire philosophy of python.
Evolution of Python
Like many programming languages, Python has undergone considerable practice over the years, resulting in significant improvements in its performance alongside its functionality and usability. Here’s a summary of major evolution stages captured in the different versions of Python:
Python 1.x (1991-2000)
- Python’s first version (1.0) was later released in January 1994.
- Notable characteristics comprised of dynamic typing, modules, methods, and exception handling.
- The basic principles of simplicity and readability, which the language is known for was founded.
Python 2.x (2000-2010)
- In October 2000, the second version came out; Python 2.0.
- Added features such as support for Unicode, garbage collector, and list comprehension.
- Python 2.0 did preserve backward compatibility but also had some shortcomings that led to the formation of Python 3.
- Python 2.0 was shelved on January 1st, 2020.
Python 3.x (2008-Present)
- The third version came out in December 2008, version 3.0.
- Great improvements were added on the Python interface like:
- Added and improved support for Unicode
- Use of the print() function instead of the print statement
- Improved division for integers
- Better Structured standard library
- Use of type hinting
- Today, the driving force behind the latest Python versions are performance and usability.
Latest Python Versions
Below is a table showcasing the most recent Python versions and their release dates:
| Version | Release Date | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Python 3.6 | December 2016 | f-strings, type hints, improved async support |
| Python 3.7 | June 2018 | Data classes, improved asyncio, performance boosts |
| Python 3.8 | October 2019 | Walrus operator (:=), positional-only arguments |
| Python 3.9 | October 2020 | Dictionary union operators, type hinting improvements |
| Python 3.10 | October 2021 | Pattern matching, structural pattern matching |
| Python 3.11 | October 2022 | Performance improvements, enhanced error messages |
| Python 3.12 | October 2023 | More performance enhancements, security updates |
| Python 3.13 | October 2024 | New language features, further optimizations |
| Python 3.13.2 | February 2025 | Free-threaded mode (PEP 703), experimental Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler (PEP 744), bug fixes |
Conclusion:
Today, Python is among the most impactful programming languages regarding its application and use worldwide. Since its initial inception by Guido van Rossum in the late 1980s, Python has consistently iterated on its versions with improvements on functionality, ease of use, and general efficiency. Its flexible applicability across various domains means that for web development, data science, artificial intelligence, and even automation, it is undoubtedly the most popular programming language.
Python is highly relevant in modern day computing technology owing to strong community support and regular updates, which will further ensure its usefulness for many more years to come. With every new version released, innovations and new features are added to improve performance, and because of this, Python will continue being a crucial part of programming for years to come.
History of Python – FAQs
1. Who is the owner of Python?
Python was designed by Guido van Rossum while he was working at Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) in the Netherlands in late eighties and was published in 1991.
2. Why is Python built?
Guido Van Rossum needed to build a language which was:
- Simple to read and write
- Highly extensible and open source
- Dynamically typed and object-oriented
- able to efficiently manage exceptions and memory
It was designed to be a successor to ABC language with improvements in extensibility.
3. When did Python launch for the first time?
Python 1.0 was issued in 1991.
4. What are the notable iterations of Python?
- Python 1.x: (1991-2000)- The first release incorporated basic features such as functions and exception handling.
- Python 2.x: (2000- 2010)- Incorporated built-in support for user-defined list and unicode but was deprecated in 2020.
- Python 3.x: (2008-Present)- Complete improvement in design to increase syntax efficiency and also removed unnecessary features.
5. Why did they stop supporting Python 2?
Python 2 support was ceased in January 2020 to give encouragement to move on to Python 3 which much smoother support, performance, and other features.