Python Programming Language

Python is a programming language that lets you work more quickly and integrate your systems more effectively. You can learn to use Python and see almost immediate gains in productivity and lower maintenance costs.

Python runs on Windows, Linux/Unix, Mac OS X, and has been ported to the Java and .NET virtual machines.

Python is free to use, even for commercial products, because of its OSI-approved open source license.

Here are some links to documentations

Browse Python 3.2.3 Documentation - (Module Index)

• What's new in Python 3.2
• Tutorial
• Library Reference
• Language Reference
• Extending and Embedding
• Python/C API
• Using Python
• Python HOWTOs

and 

• Beginner's Guide to Python
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to Packaging (creating and distributing Python packages)
• Quick Reference Guide (off-site)
• New-style classes (aka descrintro)
• Python Periodicals
• Guido's essays and presentations
• Non-English documents

Computer Programs That Think Like Humans

University of Gothenburg (Sweden) (02/13/12)

University of Gothenburg researchers have developed software that can score 150 on a standard IQ test. IQ tests are based on progressive matrices, which test the ability to see patterns in pictures, and number sequences, which test the ability to see patterns in numbers. "We're trying to make programs that can discover the same types of patterns that humans can see," says Gothenburg's Claes Strannegard. The researchers used a psychological model of human patterns in the computer program, integrating a mathematical model that follows human-like problem solving. "Our programs are beating the conventional math programs because we are combining mathematics and psychology," Strannegard says. The researchers also have started working with Stockholm University researchers to develop new IQ tests with different levels of difficulty. "Now we want to divide them into different levels of difficulty and design new types of tests, which we can then use to design computer programs for people who want to practice their problem-solving ability," Strannegard says.

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Computer Coding: Not for Geeks Only

Bloomberg Business Week (01/26/12) Barrett W. Sheridan
               ; Brendan Greeley

People in traditionally non-technological careers increasingly are embracing software programming as a way to advance their careers.  Programming is becoming "a much more fundamental piece of knowledge, similar to reading or writing," says Union Square Ventures' Andy Weissman.  The number of college students pursuing computing science degrees rose 14 percent between 2007 and 2009, according to the Computing Research Association.  Meanwhile, non-college students are accessing new resources, such as Codecademy, to develop their software development skills.  Codecademy, which was founded in 2001 by former Columbia University students Zach Sims and Ryan Bubinski, offers free interactive tutorials that guide users as they write and test lines of JavaScript code directly in their browser windows.  "We wanted to mirror the experience of what developers go through, learning by doing," Sims says.  "There's a cohort of hundreds of thousands of people who are all learning at the same time, and they'll be conversational in how to build basic Web applications and sites at the end of the year."  Free online classes from Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology also are encouraging people to learn about computer science.  "The introductory computing class has, on YouTube alone, over 2 million hits for the videos," notes Stanford professor Mehran Sahami.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/computer-coding-not-for-geeks-only-01262012.html

One more language! > Google to Unveil 'Dart' Programming Language

eWeek (09/09/11) Darryl K. Taft

Google plans to introduce a new programming language called Dart at the upcoming Goto conference. Dart is described as a structured Web programming language, and Google engineers Lars Bak and Gilad Bracha are scheduled to present it at Goto, which takes place Oct. 10-12 in Aarhus, Denmark. Bracha is the creator of the Newspeak programming language, co-author of the Java Language Specification, and a researcher in the area of object-oriented programming languages. Bak has designed and implemented object-oriented virtual machines, and has worked on Beta, Self, Strongtalk, Sun's HotSpot, OOVM Smalltalk, and Google's V8 engine for the Chrome browser. In 2009, Google introduced the experimental language Go in an attempt to combine the development speed of working in a dynamic language, such as Python, with the performance and safety of a compiled language such as C or C++.

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Programming isn't just for adults any longer.

Programming Experience	Learning Tool	Articles
No programming experience! Young people are learning programming languages from the earliest ages and up. These tools and web sites teach young people how to program using the Java programming language, as well as languages developed for ease of use.	Download Greenfoot	Quick Intro Tutorial Wombat Object Basics (article) Wombat Classes Basics (article)
A little experience	Download BlueJ	The BlueJ Tutorial Lesson: Object-Oriented Programming Concepts About the Java Technology
Some experience	NetBeans + BlueJ	Getting Started with the NetBeans IDE 5.0 BlueJ Edition Lesson: Language Basics Lesson: Classes and Objects
Eager to learn more!	Download the NetBeans IDE	The Java Tutorial Introduction to Programming I Java Technologies in Desktop Applications Java Technologies for Web Applications Documentation, Training & Support Creating a Simple JavaFX Application Using NetBeans IDE