Chapter 1. Introduction to Python for
ArcGIS
In this chapter, we will discuss the development of Python as a programming
language from its introduction in the late 1980s to its current state. We will
discuss the creator of the language and the philosophy of design that spurred
its development. We will also touch on important modules that will be used
throughout the rest of the book, and especially focus on the modules built
into the Python Standard Library. We will configure Python and the
computer to execute Python scripts. The structure of the Python folder will be
discussed, as will the location of the ArcPy module within the ArcGIS folder
structure. We will also discuss Integrated Development Environments
(IDEs)--programs designed to assist in code creation and code execution--
comparing and contrasting existing IDEs to determine what benefits each
IDE can offer when scripting Python code.
This chapter will cover the following topics:
Quick Overview of Python: what it is and what it does, who created it,
where is it now
Important Python modules, both built-in and third party
Python core concepts including data types, data containers, and looping
The location of the Python interpreter, and how it is called to execute a
script
Adjusting the computer's environment variables to ensure correct code
execution
Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)
Python's folder structure, and where the modules are stored
