Welcome to Python
S. Fletcher, C. Gardner · 2012
This chapter introduces the concept of Python programming. Python programming language is particularly suited to quantitative analysts/programmers working in the field of financial engineering. Python's high-level nature and its rich collection of built-in data types serve to allow the analyst/programmer to focus more on the problems they are solving and less on low-level mechanical constructs relating to such things as memory management in contrast to other programming languages in common use in this domain. A variety of techniques exist to extend Python from the C and C++ programming languages. Conversely, a Python interpreter is easily embedded in C and C++ programs. The ability for new programs to be written in Python that can interoperate with these code investments is a huge victory for the analyst and the institutions considering its use.