mirror of
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f8316638af
SourceForge doesn't choke on this batch :-)
I'm not entirely sure this is 100% correct. The patch changes an
\index{persistency} to \index{presistence}, and I don't know what \index{}
does. But it seems to do so persi--er, consistently, so I hope it isn't a
problem.
54 lines
2.8 KiB
TeX
54 lines
2.8 KiB
TeX
\chapter{Introduction}
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\label{intro}
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The ``Python library'' contains several different kinds of components.
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It contains data types that would normally be considered part of the
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``core'' of a language, such as numbers and lists. For these types,
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the Python language core defines the form of literals and places some
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constraints on their semantics, but does not fully define the
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semantics. (On the other hand, the language core does define
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syntactic properties like the spelling and priorities of operators.)
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The library also contains built-in functions and exceptions ---
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objects that can be used by all Python code without the need of an
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\keyword{import} statement. Some of these are defined by the core
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language, but many are not essential for the core semantics and are
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only described here.
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The bulk of the library, however, consists of a collection of modules.
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There are many ways to dissect this collection. Some modules are
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written in C and built in to the Python interpreter; others are
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written in Python and imported in source form. Some modules provide
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interfaces that are highly specific to Python, like printing a stack
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trace; some provide interfaces that are specific to particular
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operating systems, such as access to specific hardware; others provide
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interfaces that are
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specific to a particular application domain, like the World-Wide Web.
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Some modules are available in all versions and ports of Python; others
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are only available when the underlying system supports or requires
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them; yet others are available only when a particular configuration
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option was chosen at the time when Python was compiled and installed.
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This manual is organized ``from the inside out:'' it first describes
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the built-in data types, then the built-in functions and exceptions,
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and finally the modules, grouped in chapters of related modules. The
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ordering of the chapters as well as the ordering of the modules within
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each chapter is roughly from most relevant to least important.
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This means that if you start reading this manual from the start, and
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skip to the next chapter when you get bored, you will get a reasonable
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overview of the available modules and application areas that are
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supported by the Python library. Of course, you don't \emph{have} to
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read it like a novel --- you can also browse the table of contents (in
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front of the manual), or look for a specific function, module or term
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in the index (in the back). And finally, if you enjoy learning about
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random subjects, you choose a random page number (see module
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\refmodule{random}) and read a section or two. Regardless of the
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order in which you read the sections of this manual, it helps to start
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with chapter \ref{builtin}, ``Built-in Types, Exceptions and
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Functions,'' as the remainder of the manual assumes familiarity with
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this material.
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Let the show begin!
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