what is python interpreter

What is a python interpreter?

When we write Python code, what we get is a text file with a .py extension that contains Python code. To run the code, you need the Python interpreter to execute the .py file.

Since the entire Python language is open source from specification to interpreter, in theory, as long as the level is high enough, anyone can write a Python interpreter to execute Python code (of course it is very difficult). In fact, multiple Python interpreters do exist.

CPython

After we downloaded and installed Python 2.7 from the official Python website, we directly obtained an official version of the interpreter: CPython. This interpreter is developed in C language, so it is called CPython. Running python from the command line starts the CPython interpreter.

CPython is the most widely used Python interpreter. All code in the tutorial is also executed under CPython.

IPython

IPython is an interactive interpreter based on CPython. That is to say, IPython is only enhanced in interactive mode, but executes Python code The functionality is exactly the same as CPython. For example, although many domestic browsers have different appearances, their cores actually call IE.

CPython uses >>> as the prompt, while IPython uses In [serial number]: as the prompt.

PyPy

PyPy is another Python interpreter that targets execution speed. PyPy uses JIT technology to dynamically compile (note not interpret) Python code, so it can significantly improve the execution speed of Python code.

Most Python codes can be run under PyPy, but there are some differences between PyPy and CPython, which results in the same Python code executing under the two interpreters may have different results. If your code is to be executed under PyPy, you need to understand the differences between PyPy and CPython.

Jython

Jython is a Python interpreter running on the Java platform. It can directly compile Python code into Java bytecode for execution.

IronPython

IronPython is similar to Jython, except that IronPython is a Python interpreter running on the Microsoft .Net platform and can directly compile Python code into .Net Bytecode.

Summary

There are many Python interpreters, but the most widely used one is CPython. If you want to interact with Java or .Net platform, the best way is not to use Jython or IronPython, but to interact through network calls to ensure the independence between programs.

All the code in this tutorial is only guaranteed to run under CPython 2.7 version. Be sure to install CPython locally (that is, download the installer from the official Python website).

In addition, the tutorial also embeds a web version of IPython to practice executing some Python code in the browser. It should be noted that the functions of both are the same and the codes entered are the same, but the prompts are different. In addition, not all code can be executed in the web version of IPython. For security reasons, many operations (such as file operations) are restricted, so some code must be executed in the local environment.

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