Programming Language Atlas

A structured reference to language families, paradigms, and implementations

Python

Multi-paradigm, imperative. First appeared 1991; dynamic scripting; scripting, data analysis, machine learning.

Record

First appeared1991
FamilyDynamic scripting
Paradigm emphasisMulti-paradigm, imperative
TypingDynamic, strong
MemoryRefcount with cycle collector
ExecutionInterpreted
Primary domainScripting, data analysis, machine learning
DesignersGuido van Rossum
Referencehttps://docs.python.org/3/reference/
Last verifiednot yet checked against its source by a human

Dates are first public release or publication, not the start of internal development. Colour on the typing and memory tags encodes kind, never rank.

Back to top

Influence

Lisp1958C1972Julia2012Mojo2023Python1991
Figure 1. Python in the influence graph: recorded ancestors on the left, languages that record it as an influence on the right. Every node links to its own record. Edges name indexed languages only, so an empty side means no indexed relative, not none at all. Source: languages.json.

Back to top

Within the Dynamic scripting

Late binding and rapid iteration, usually paired with a large package ecosystem and an interpreter or JIT.

Language First appeared Typing Memory Execution
BASIC 1964 Dynamic, weak Interpreter-managed Interpreted
Smalltalk-80 1980 Dynamic, strong Tracing GC Bytecode VM
Perl 1987 Dynamic, weak Reference counting Interpreted
Self 1987 Dynamic, strong Generational tracing GC JIT
Lua 1993 Dynamic, weak Incremental tracing GC Bytecode VM
JavaScript 1995 Dynamic, weak Tracing GC JIT
PHP 1995 Dynamic, weak Refcount with cycle collector Bytecode VM
Ruby 1995 Dynamic, strong Tracing GC Bytecode VM
TypeScript 2012 Static, erased at runtime Tracing GC (host) Transpiled to JavaScript

9 other languages in this family, ordered by first appearance. Python itself is omitted. Source: languages.json.

Back to top