summaryrefslogtreecommitdiff
path: root/sys/src/cmd/python/Doc/lib/libintro.tex
diff options
context:
space:
mode:
authorcinap_lenrek <cinap_lenrek@localhost>2011-05-03 11:25:13 +0000
committercinap_lenrek <cinap_lenrek@localhost>2011-05-03 11:25:13 +0000
commit458120dd40db6b4df55a4e96b650e16798ef06a0 (patch)
tree8f82685be24fef97e715c6f5ca4c68d34d5074ee /sys/src/cmd/python/Doc/lib/libintro.tex
parent3a742c699f6806c1145aea5149bf15de15a0afd7 (diff)
add hg and python
Diffstat (limited to 'sys/src/cmd/python/Doc/lib/libintro.tex')
-rw-r--r--sys/src/cmd/python/Doc/lib/libintro.tex53
1 files changed, 53 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/python/Doc/lib/libintro.tex b/sys/src/cmd/python/Doc/lib/libintro.tex
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..62434cd6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/python/Doc/lib/libintro.tex
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+\chapter{Introduction}
+\label{intro}
+
+The ``Python library'' contains several different kinds of components.
+
+It contains data types that would normally be considered part of the
+``core'' of a language, such as numbers and lists. For these types,
+the Python language core defines the form of literals and places some
+constraints on their semantics, but does not fully define the
+semantics. (On the other hand, the language core does define
+syntactic properties like the spelling and priorities of operators.)
+
+The library also contains built-in functions and exceptions ---
+objects that can be used by all Python code without the need of an
+\keyword{import} statement. Some of these are defined by the core
+language, but many are not essential for the core semantics and are
+only described here.
+
+The bulk of the library, however, consists of a collection of modules.
+There are many ways to dissect this collection. Some modules are
+written in C and built in to the Python interpreter; others are
+written in Python and imported in source form. Some modules provide
+interfaces that are highly specific to Python, like printing a stack
+trace; some provide interfaces that are specific to particular
+operating systems, such as access to specific hardware; others provide
+interfaces that are
+specific to a particular application domain, like the World Wide Web.
+Some modules are available in all versions and ports of Python; others
+are only available when the underlying system supports or requires
+them; yet others are available only when a particular configuration
+option was chosen at the time when Python was compiled and installed.
+
+This manual is organized ``from the inside out:'' it first describes
+the built-in data types, then the built-in functions and exceptions,
+and finally the modules, grouped in chapters of related modules. The
+ordering of the chapters as well as the ordering of the modules within
+each chapter is roughly from most relevant to least important.
+
+This means that if you start reading this manual from the start, and
+skip to the next chapter when you get bored, you will get a reasonable
+overview of the available modules and application areas that are
+supported by the Python library. Of course, you don't \emph{have} to
+read it like a novel --- you can also browse the table of contents (in
+front of the manual), or look for a specific function, module or term
+in the index (in the back). And finally, if you enjoy learning about
+random subjects, you choose a random page number (see module
+\refmodule{random}) and read a section or two. Regardless of the
+order in which you read the sections of this manual, it helps to start
+with chapter \ref{builtin}, ``Built-in Types, Exceptions and
+Functions,'' as the remainder of the manual assumes familiarity with
+this material.
+
+Let the show begin!