Apa itu Python dan apa saja karakteristik utamanya?

Question

Accepted Answer

**Python** adalah high-level, interpreted, general-purpose programming language yang dirancang untuk **readability and productivity**. Filosofinya menekankan kode yang jelas dan ringkas — "seharusnya ada satu cara yang jelas untuk melakukannya."

## Karakteristik utama

```python
# readable, indentation-based syntax (no braces) — the structure IS the indentation
def greet(name):
    if name:
        return f"Hello, {name}"   # clean, English-like
    return "Hello, stranger"
```

```text
✓ Interpreted    — runs line by line, no separate compile step (fast to iterate)
✓ Dynamically typed — variables don't declare types; checked at runtime
✓ Strongly typed   — no implicit weird coercions ("1" + 1 raises an error)
✓ Readable        — indentation-based, minimal punctuation, English-like
✓ Multi-paradigm  — procedural, object-oriented, and functional styles
✓ "Batteries included" — a large standard library
✓ Huge ecosystem   — PyPI packages for nearly everything
```

## Dynamic namun strong typing

```python
x = 5         # x is an int
x = "hello"   # now x is a str — types are bound to VALUES, not variables

"1" + 1       # ❌ TypeError — strong typing won't silently coerce (unlike JS)
```

Variabel tidak diketik (dynamic), tetapi Python tidak akan diam-diam mencampur tipe yang tidak kompatibel (strong) — keseimbangan antara fleksibilitas dan keamanan.

## Apa yang digunakan Python

```text
✓ Web back-ends (Django, FastAPI, Flask)
✓ Data science / ML / AI (NumPy, pandas, PyTorch, TensorFlow) — the dominant language
✓ Automation, scripting, DevOps tooling
✓ Data engineering, scientific computing
```

## Trade-off

```text
Python is SLOWER than compiled languages (interpreted, dynamic) and the GIL limits
CPU parallelism — but its readability, speed of development, and ecosystem usually
outweigh raw runtime speed for most tasks (and hot paths use C-backed libraries).
```

## Mengapa ini penting

Kombinasi readability, productivity, dan ekosistem yang luas membuat Python menjadi salah satu bahasa paling populer — dominan dalam data science/AI/ML dan pilihan teratas untuk web back-ends, automation, dan scripting.

Memahami sifat inti Python (interpreted, dynamically *dan* strongly typed, readability-focused, multi-paradigm) dan trade-off-nya (kecepatan pengembang dibanding kecepatan eksekusi mentah) menunjukkan mengapa dipilih untuk banyak domain dan bagaimana perbedaannya dengan bahasa compiled atau weakly-typed.