Chapter 1. Why Python?
This chapter covers
If you’ve picked up this book, you’re probably trying to learn how to program. Congratulations! Not many people set out to learn programming, but it’s one of the most interesting and rewarding subjects that you can teach yourself. Programming is the new literacy; if you’re not sure how to write a simple program, whether as a batch file, mail filter, or formula in a spreadsheet, you’re at a disadvantage compared to those who do. Programming is also a lever. With programming, you can turn your ideas into reality.
I first started to program when I was around 10, using the Commodore 64. Back then, there wasn’t much available in the way of preprogrammed software, unless you counted games or simple word processing. Computers like the Commodore came with BASIC built in, and programming was a lot more accessible—you didn’t need to learn a great deal to be able to get results quickly.
Since then, computers have departed from that early ideal. Now you have to go out of your way to install something so that your computer can be programmed. But once you know how, you can create all sorts of wondrous programs which will do boring work for you, inform you, and entertain you. Especially that last part—programming is fun, and everybody should try it.
