Lecture Notes on Python's Creation and Development

Introduction

• Speaker: Dutch programmer who created Python.
• Early experience working at CWI (Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica), a government-funded research lab in the Netherlands.

Early Projects

ABC Project

• First job involved programming language ABC.
• Source of knowledge and opinions on language design.
• Project ultimately unsuccessful.

Amoeba Project

• Key project at CWI was Amoeba, a distributed system.
• Developed in collaboration with a university in Amsterdam.
• Applications largely written in shell scripts or C programs.

Development of Python

• Identified downsides to shell scripts and C.
• Desire for a new language that would be:
  • More like a genuine programming language (C-like).
  • Easier to use with concise expression (like shell scripts), but better readability.
• Decision to build an interpreter for this new language.
  • Estimated time: 2-3 months.
  • Goal: Increased productivity for himself and the team.
• Actual time spent exceeded initial estimate.
• Outcome of the Amoeba project was primarily scientific papers.

Release and Community Growth

• Python was released as open source after about a year.
  • The term "open source" was not yet coined.
• A community of Python enthusiasts began to form.
  • Contributors started sharing ideas and critiquing each other's work.
  • Speaker maintained final say on contributions.

Personal Reflections

• Resigned from position of BDFL (Benevolent Dictator For Life) in July.
  • Irony in the title due to the nature of the position.
• Current shift in Python's governance structure.
  • Community is exploring the best governance model going forward.
  • Potential outcomes:
    • Honorary BDFL (less likely).
    • Small committee dedicated to Python's long-term success (more likely).

Conclusion

• Speaker emphasizes the importance of guiding Python's future vision.