#67 Python Tutorial for Beginners | is Python Compiled or Interpreted Language?

Summary

This video script explores Python's nature as both a compiled and interpreted language. It explains the compilation process into bytecode and subsequent interpretation by a virtual machine, emphasizing Python's platform independence. The script also touches on the concept of different Python implementations like CPython, PyPy, IronPython, and Jython, and how they affect performance and usage. The video aims to clarify misconceptions and deepen understanding of Python's inner workings.

Takeaways

• 😀 Python is both a compiled and interpreted language, which allows it to have advantages of both.
• 📜 Compiled languages, like C and C++, convert high-level code to machine code, enabling direct execution by the CPU.
• 🔄 Python code is first compiled into bytecode, and this bytecode is then interpreted by the Python Virtual Machine (PVM).
• 🌐 Bytecode helps achieve platform independence, allowing Python programs to run on different machines without changes.
• 🖥️ A virtual machine, such as PVM or JVM (for Java), interprets bytecode and converts it into machine-specific instructions.
• 📦 The concept of bytecode makes Python portable, meaning the same Python code can run on multiple platforms with a virtual machine.
• 💡 Python simplifies the execution process by handling compilation automatically without the programmer needing to explicitly compile code.
• 💻 Even in interactive Python shells, the code is compiled into bytecode before execution by the PVM.
• 🔧 The most commonly used implementation of Python is CPython, which is written in C. However, other implementations exist, such as PyPy, Jython (for Java), and IronPython (for .NET).
• 🌍 Python as a language defines rules and conventions, but different implementations can vary based on the language they're written in.

Q & A

What type of language is Python, and why is it described this way?

Python is both a compiled and interpreted language. It is compiled into bytecode, which is then interpreted by the Python Virtual Machine (PVM). This process combines elements of both compilation and interpretation, making Python unique.

What role does a compiler play in programming languages like C and C++?

In languages like C and C++, a compiler translates high-level code into machine code, which the computer can execute. The compiler converts the entire program before execution.

How does Python differ from traditional compiled languages like C or C++?

Python code is first compiled into bytecode, a lower-level code, which is then interpreted by the Python Virtual Machine (PVM). Unlike C or C++, where the code is directly compiled into machine language, Python combines both compilation and interpretation.

What is the role of the Python Virtual Machine (PVM) in executing Python code?

The PVM interprets the bytecode generated after Python code is compiled. It converts the bytecode into machine code that the specific platform can execute, allowing platform independence.

Why does Python use bytecode before interpretation?

Python uses bytecode to achieve platform independence. By compiling Python code into bytecode, which is portable, it can be run on different machines with varying CPU architectures, as long as they have the PVM.

What is meant by the term 'platform independence' in Python?

Platform independence means that Python code can be written once and run on any platform, regardless of the machine’s architecture. This is achieved through the use of bytecode and the Python Virtual Machine (PVM).

How does Python differ from Java in terms of compilation and execution?

In Java, you explicitly compile the code using a compiler (e.g., `javac`) and then run it using the Java command. In Python, this process is hidden from the programmer. Python compiles the code to bytecode automatically when the program is run, making the process seamless.

What happens when you execute a Python command in an interactive shell?

When a Python command is executed in an interactive shell, it is compiled into bytecode behind the scenes and then interpreted by the PVM. The user doesn't see the compilation step, but it still occurs.

What is CPython, and why is it important?

CPython is the default and most widely used implementation of Python, written in the C programming language. It follows Python’s language rules but implements them using C, making it the standard version that most Python users interact with.

What are some other implementations of Python besides CPython?

Other Python implementations include PyPy (a Python implementation with JIT compilation for speed), Jython (written in Java), and IronPython (a .NET implementation). Each implementation serves different purposes or optimizes Python in unique ways.