This gallery is part of the TechXchange: Embedded Python Programming.
What you’ll learn:
- Insight into compilers and interpreters for the Python programming language.
- Their functions and features.
- Potential applications for these platforms.
Created by Guido van Rossum in 1991, Python has become a popular coding language used by many developers and engineers due to its ease of use and reliability. The language is characterized by its readability, straightforward syntax, and versatility, allowing it to be used with multiple operating systems without modification. That versatility also extends to the number of compilers and interpreters used to execute programs.
A compiler is a software tool that translates Python code written in a high-level, human-readable form into low-level machine code or “bytecode” that can be executed directly by a computer. The compiled code is typically more efficient and faster to execute than the source code. Compilers can also optimize code, perform static-type checking, and generate standalone executable files.
Interpreters are software programs that read and execute programs. They’re an essential component of the Python programming language, enabling developers to run scripts or interact with the programming language. They read, parse, execute, runtime, output, and handle errors. Like compilers, interpreters are available for a myriad of platforms and wide range of applications, including web development and scientific computing.
Compilers and interpreters are designed to facilitate speed, efficiency, and compatibility for any number of applications. They’re fundamental tools that enable the development of Python code, providing versatility, accessibility, and innovation within the software development ecosystem, from web development and scientific computing to artificial intelligence and more.
In this roundup, we look at some of the popular compilers and interpreters for the Python coding language: