History of Python
Python was conceived in the late 1980s by Guido van Rossum, a Dutch programmer. He started developing Python as a successor to the ABC programming language at the National Research Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science (CWI) in the Netherlands. Guido aimed to create a language that was easy to learn, readable, and versatile.
Late 1980s: Guido van Rossum starts developing Python as a successor to the ABC programming language at the National Research Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science (CWI) in the Netherlands.
December 1989: Development of Python begins, with Guido aiming to create a language that is easy to learn, readable, and versatile.
February 1991: Python 0.9.0, the first public release, is made available. The language is named after the British comedy group Monty Python.
January 1994: Python 1.0 is released, introducing lambda functions, exceptions, and modules.
October 2000: Python 2.0 is released, bringing improvements such as a garbage collector and better Unicode support.
Subsequent Python 2.x releases continue to enhance the language, but some design decisions introduce inconsistencies and limitations.
December 2008: Python 3.0, a major milestone, is released. It includes backward-incompatible changes to address design flaws and inconsistencies in the language, aiming for cleaner syntax and improved Unicode support.
The transition from Python 2 to Python 3 is gradual, and Python 2 continues to be widely used for several years due to compatibility issues.
Guido van Rossum steps down as the BDFL (Benevolent Dictator for Life) of Python in 2017, and the governance of Python is transferred to a community-driven process with Python Enhancement Proposals (PEPs) and the Python Software Foundation (PSF).
Python's popularity rapidly grows in the 2010s, driven by its versatility, ease of use, and the expansive ecosystem of libraries and frameworks.
Python becomes the language of choice for various domains, including web development, data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, automation, and more.
September 2021 (knowledge cutoff): Python 3.9.x is the latest stable version, with Python 3.10.x in development.
Throughout its history, Python has evolved and matured as a programming language, continuously improving its syntax, features, and performance. The community-driven development process ensures that Python remains relevant and adaptable to emerging technologies and programming trends.
Python Version List
| Python Version | Release Date |
|---|---|
| Python 1.0 | January 1994 |
| Python 2.0 | October 2000 |
| Python 2.1 | April 17, 2001 |
| Python 2.2 | December 21, 2001 |
| Python 2.3 | July 29, 2003 |
| Python 2.4 | November 30, 2004 |
| Python 2.5 | September 19, 2006 |
| Python 2.6 | October 1, 2008 |
| Python 2.7 | July 3, 2010 |
| Python 3.0 | December 3, 2008 |
| Python 3.1 | June 27, 2009 |
| Python 3.2 | February 20, 2011 |
| Python 3.3 | September 29, 2012 |
| Python 3.4 | March 16, 2014 |
| Python 3.5 | September 13, 2015 |
| Python 3.6 | December 23, 2016 |
| Python 3.7 | June 27, 2018 |
| Python 3.8 | October 14, 2019 |
| Python 3.9 | October 5, 2020 |
| Python 3.10 | Expected in October 2021 |
Please note that this table includes the major releases of Python, and there have been numerous minor and bug fix releases within each major version.
Why the Name Python?
The name "Python" for the programming language was chosen by Guido van Rossum, the creator of Python. Guido was a fan of the British comedy group Monty Python, which was known for its humor and sketch comedy show called "Monty Python's Flying Circus."
When Guido was developing Python in the late 1980s, he needed a short, unique, and slightly mysterious name for the new programming language. Being a fan of Monty Python, he decided to name the language after the comedy group as a tribute to their work.
The name "Python" was also suitable because Guido wanted a name that could be easily remembered and pronounced, and it reflected the playful and light-hearted nature of the language.
So, the name "Python" was chosen simply because Guido van Rossum liked the comedy group Monty Python and wanted a memorable and fun name for his programming language.