Introduction To Python

What is Software? What are its types?

Software is a set of instructions, data, or programs used to operate computers and perform specific tasks. It tells the hardware what to do and how to do it. In simple terms, software is what allows you to interact with your computer or device — it's everything that isn’t physical.

Types:

• System software: Controls and manages hardware components.  Eg: OS, device drivers, translators etc.

• Application software: Designed to help users to perform specific tasks. There are 3 types of application softwares - standalone application software, client-server application software and web application software. Eg: calculator, Swiggy, WhatsApp Web etc.

• Programming software: Tools used by developers to write code.

What is a program?

A program is a specific set of instructions written in a programming language that a computer can execute to perform  a particular task.

What is a programming language? What are its types?

A programming language is like a special set of words or rules that we use to tell a computer what to do. Just like human languages have vocabulary and grammar, a programming language has syntax and structure that needs to be followed.

Types:

• Low level languages: These languages are closer to the binary instructions that a computer can execute directly. It’s harder to read/ write for humans but offer more control over hardware and system resources.

• High level languages: These languages are easier to read and write, making them more accessible for programmers. They are designed to be user-friendly and abstract away the complexities of the computer hardware. These languages require a compiler or interpreter to be converted into machine code.

What are compilers and interpreters?

Both compilers and interpreters are translator tools that convert high level programming into machine code. However, they do this in different ways and have distinct characteristics.

• Compiler: It is a tool that translates an entire program written in high level language into machine code all at once.

• Interpreter: It is a tool that translates an entire program written in high level language into machine code line by line.

What are the features of python?

• It has simple and readable syntax.
• It is an interpreted language.
• It is a dynamically typed language.
• It supports object oriented programming.
• It  comes with a large standard library.
• It is platform independent. 
• It is portable.
• It has automatic memory management.
• It is a high-level programming language.
• We can integrate python with other languages and tools easily.