The Story of Python, by Its Creator, Guido van Rossum
Summary
TLDRIn this interview, the creator of Python, Guido van Rossum, recounts his Dutch upbringing and his early career at CWI, a government-funded research lab. He discusses the origins of Python, which began as a solution to the limitations of shell scripts and C programs for a distributed system project called Amoeba. Van Rossum initially estimated Python's development would take two to three months, but it eventually grew into a widely adopted programming language. He reflects on Python's open-source release, the formation of a community, and the current transition in Python's governance structure as he steps down from his role as Benevolent Dictator For Life (BDFL).
Takeaways
- 🌍 The speaker is Dutch and grew up in the Netherlands.
- 🐍 Python was created by the speaker while working at CWI, a government-funded research lab focused on advanced math and computer science.
- 🔠 The speaker's first job was with a team working on the ABC programming language, which influenced his views on language design.
- 📚 The unsuccessful ABC project led to the speaker working on the Amoeba distributed system, sparking the idea for a new programming language.
- 💡 The desire for a programming language that was more user-friendly and concise than shell scripts or C programs led to the creation of Python.
- 🕒 The initial estimate for building Python was two to three months, but it took longer and the productivity gains were not immediate.
- 🌐 After about a year, Python was released as open source, which helped in building a community of users and contributors.
- 👥 The Python community grew, with people spreading the word and contributing to the language's development.
- 🔑 The speaker had the final say on contributions to Python during its early years.
- 🔄 The speaker resigned from his position as BDFL (Benevolent Dictator For Life), reflecting a change in Python's governance structure.
- 🔄 The Python community is in the process of determining the best governance model for the future, possibly involving a committee for long-term guidance.
Q & A
Where did the creator of Python grow up?
-The creator of Python grew up in the Netherlands.
What was the name of the research lab where Python was created?
-Python was created at CWI, a research lab funded by the government.
What was the first programming language the creator of Python worked on?
-The first programming language the creator of Python worked on was named ABC.
Why did the creator of Python decide to develop a new programming language?
-The creator of Python wanted a third language that was more like a genuine programming language, easier to use like shell scripts, but without the readability issues of shell scripts.
What was the name of the distributed system project that influenced the creation of Python?
-The distributed system project that influenced the creation of Python was named Amoeba.
How long did the creator of Python initially think it would take to build the Python interpreter?
-The creator of Python initially thought it would take two or three months to build the Python interpreter.
How did the creator of Python plan to recoup the time spent building the Python interpreter?
-The creator planned to recoup the time spent by increased productivity not just for himself but for the whole team using the new language.
When was Python first released as open source?
-Python was first released as open source about a year after its creation.
What was the initial response to Python's open source release?
-The initial response was the formation of a small community of Python enthusiasts who started spreading the word about Python and contributing to its development.
What was the role of the creator of Python in deciding contributions to the language?
-The creator had the last word on whether he wanted a particular contribution in the language.
What significant change is happening in Python's governance structure?
-Python's governance structure is changing, with the community figuring out the best way forward, likely moving towards a small committee guiding Python's future vision.
Outlines
🐍 Python's Origins and Development
The speaker, a Dutch programmer, shares his experience of creating Python while working at CWI, a government-funded research lab in the Netherlands. Initially part of a team working on the ABC programming language, he later contributed to the Amoeba project, a distributed system. Recognizing the limitations of shell scripts and C programs, he envisioned a new language that combined the ease of use and conciseness of shell scripts with the robustness of C. Despite initially estimating a two to three-month development timeline for Python's interpreter, the project expanded over time. After a year, Python was released as open source, fostering a growing community of developers. The speaker also discusses his resignation from the Benevolent Dictator For Life (BDFL) role and the community's transition towards a new governance model, likely involving a committee dedicated to Python's long-term success.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Netherlands
💡CWI
💡ABC
💡Amoeba
💡Programming Language
💡Interpreter
💡Open Source
💡Community
💡BDFL
💡Governance
💡Vision
Highlights
Creator of Python, a Dutch programmer, worked at CWI, a government-funded research lab in the Netherlands.
Initial job involved working on a programming language named ABC.
ABC project was about advanced math and computer science research but was eventually unsuccessful.
Transitioned to work on a distributed system called Amoeba in collaboration with a university in Amsterdam.
Recognized a need for a third programming language that was easier to use and more concise than shell scripts or C programs.
Python was envisioned as a middle-ground language, more user-friendly and concise than existing options.
Estimation to build Python's interpreter was initially two to three months, expecting increased productivity.
Python's development took longer than expected, and the Amoeba project did not regain the expected productivity.
Python was released as open source, although the term 'open source' was not yet coined.
A small community of Python enthusiasts began to form, contributing to and critiquing the language.
Creator had the final say on contributions to Python, maintaining control over its development.
Resigned from the position of BDFL (Benevolent Dictator For Life), a role that was ironic due to the 'for life' part.
Python's governance structure is undergoing change, with the community seeking the best model for future leadership.
A small committee of dedicated individuals may guide Python's future vision and success.
The creator's resignation as BDFL marks a significant shift in Python's governance and community involvement.
The community's role in Python's development has been crucial, with contributions and critiques shaping the language.
The future of Python is likely to involve a more collaborative and structured approach to governance.
Transcripts
I'm Dutch I grew up in the Netherlands
in fact I created Python while I was
working in the Netherlands
I got a nice job as a programmer at a
place called CWI which is a sort of a
research lab funded by the government
doing advanced math and computer science
research my first job was on a team that
worked on a programming language named
ABC and it was a super interesting
project and everything I know about
language design or all my opinions about
language design originated in that
project ABC was eventually unsuccessful
and I moved on to programming on other
projects at the same place the key one
was amoeba which was a distributed
system that was being built
collaboratively by CWI and one of the
universities in amsterdam at some point
I realized every application we have to
write in for amoeba is basically a shell
either a shell script or a C program and
I found that there were downsides to
either of those and I thought well I
wish there was a third language that was
sort of in the middle of those that felt
more like a genuine programming language
like on the sea side but that was
perhaps interpreted easier to use sort
of
more concise of expression like shell
scripts but without the sort of terrible
properties in terms of readability of
shell scripts I thought hmmm I can build
my own building an interpreter it's
gonna take me two or three months and
I'll win that time back by increased
productivity not just for myself but for
the whole team well those three months
sort of bloomed to more and more time I
don't think we only amoeba project we
ever gained that productivity back in
amoeba sort of mostly produced
scientific papers iPhones slowly became
successful paying about after about a
year we released it as open source
actually we didn't call it open source
because those terms had not been
invented and almost immediately a small
community of iPhone lovers started
growing where people sort of spread the
word about Python and sort of started
contributing back and critiquing each
other's contributions and sort of let me
have the last word about whether I
wanted a particular contribution in the
language last July I actually resigned
my position of BD FL which is ironic
because of the FL standing for for life
one imminent change is that pythons own
government structure is changing the
community is currently in the middle of
sort of
figuring out what's the best way is to
to sort of have governance going forward
which is either going to be an honor be
DFL although that is the less likely
solution more likely I see a small
committee of people who are committed to
Python success long term those people
will also be guiding pythons sort of
future vision
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