As someone whose background is mostly in Java and C/C++, the following list is what I like about Python syntax (the list is growing as I learn more about Python).
Notes from Reading the Introduction to Python
http://docs.python.org/2/tutorial/introduction.html
1. Can display raw string or display the string as is.
print(r'my file is in c:\')
print("""\
Usage: thingy [OPTIONS]
-h Display this usage message
-H hostname Hostname to connect to
""")
2. String can be indexed
newStr = "python"
newStr[1] #print 'y'
3. multiple assignment
a,b = 0,1
4. indentation is Python’s way of grouping statements
5. Get rid of newline and assume newline unless “end=” attribute is used
print(b, end=',')
6 super easy way to prompt user for input
x = int(input("Please enter an integer: "))
Notes on Control Flow
http://docs.python.org/2/tutorial/controlflow.html
1. Instead of {…}, use :
In Java
if (x < 0){
System.out.println("Negative changed to zero");
}else if (x==0){
System.out.println("Zero");
}else{
System.out.println("More");
}
In python
if x < 0:
print "Negative changed to zero"
else if x==0:
print "Zero"
else:
print "More"
2. Can modify the sequence you are iterating
No such syntax in Java
Python
for w in words[:]:
if len(w) > 6:
words.insert(0,w)
Notes on Python Strings
1. Python strings are immutable
