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<H1><A NAME="SECTION001000000000000000000"></A>
<BR>
Front Matter
</H1>

<P>
Copyright &#169; 1991-1995 by Stichting Mathematisch Centrum,
Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

<P>
<DIV ALIGN="CENTER">
All Rights Reserved

</DIV>

<P>
Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that
both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in
supporting documentation, and that the names of Stichting Mathematisch
Centrum or CWI or Corporation for National Research Initiatives or
CNRI not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining to
distribution of the software without specific, written prior
permission.

<P>
While CWI is the initial source for this software, a modified version
is made available by the Corporation for National Research Initiatives
(CNRI) at the Internet address <span class=url><a href="ftp://ftp.python.org">ftp://ftp.python.org</a></span>.

<P>
STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM AND CNRI DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES WITH
REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS, IN NO EVENT SHALL STICHTING MATHEMATISCH
CENTRUM OR CNRI BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR
PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER
TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR
PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.

<P>

<H3>Abstract:</H3>
<DIV CLASS="ABSTRACT">

<P>
Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming
language with dynamic semantics.  Its high-level built in data
structures, combined with dynamic typing and dynamic binding, make it
very attractive for rapid application development, as well as for use
as a scripting or glue language to connect existing components
together.  Python's simple, easy to learn syntax emphasizes
readability and therefore reduces the cost of program
maintenance.  Python supports modules and packages, which encourages
program modularity and code reuse.  The Python interpreter and the
extensive standard library are available in source or binary form
without charge for all major platforms, and can be freely distributed.

<P>
This reference manual describes the syntax and ``core semantics'' of
the language.  It is terse, but attempts to be exact and complete.  The
semantics of non-essential built-in object types and of the built-in
functions and modules are described in the <i>Python Library
Reference</i>.  For an informal introduction to the language, see the
<i>Python Tutorial</i>.  For C or C++ programmers, two additional
manuals exist: <i>Extending and Embedding the Python Interpreter</i>
describes the high-level picture of how to write a Python extension
module, and the <i>Python/C API Reference Manual</i> describes the
interfaces available to C/C++ programmers in detail.

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