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Fred Drakef6669171998-05-06 19:52:49 +00001\documentclass{manual}
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3\title{Python Reference Manual}
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5\input{boilerplate}
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7\makeindex
8
9\begin{document}
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11\maketitle
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13\input{copyright}
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15\begin{abstract}
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17\noindent
18Python is a simple, yet powerful, interpreted programming language
Fred Drakef8e44151998-05-07 17:27:32 +000019that bridges the gap between \C{} and shell programming, and is thus
Fred Drakef6669171998-05-06 19:52:49 +000020ideally suited for ``throw-away programming'' and rapid prototyping.
21Its syntax is put together from constructs borrowed from a variety of
Fred Drakef8e44151998-05-07 17:27:32 +000022other languages; most prominent are influences from \ABC, \C, Modula-3
Fred Drakef6669171998-05-06 19:52:49 +000023and Icon.
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25The Python interpreter is easily extended with new functions and data
Fred Drakef8e44151998-05-07 17:27:32 +000026types implemented in \C{}. Python is also suitable as an extension
Fred Drakef6669171998-05-06 19:52:49 +000027language for highly customizable C applications such as editors or
28window managers.
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30Python is available for various operating systems, amongst which
Fred Drakef8e44151998-05-07 17:27:32 +000031several flavors of \UNIX{} (including Linux), the Apple Macintosh O.S.,
Fred Drakef6669171998-05-06 19:52:49 +000032MS-DOS, MS-Windows 3.1, Windows NT, and OS/2.
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34This reference manual describes the syntax and ``core semantics'' of
35the language. It is terse, but attempts to be exact and complete.
36The semantics of non-essential built-in object types and of the
Fred Drakef8e44151998-05-07 17:27:32 +000037built-in functions and modules are described in the \emph{Python
Fred Drakef6669171998-05-06 19:52:49 +000038Library Reference}. For an informal introduction to the language, see
Fred Drakef8e44151998-05-07 17:27:32 +000039the \emph{Python Tutorial}.
Fred Drakef6669171998-05-06 19:52:49 +000040
41\end{abstract}
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43\tableofcontents
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Fred Drakef8e44151998-05-07 17:27:32 +000045\input{ref1} % Introduction
46\input{ref2} % Lexical analysis
47\input{ref3} % Data model
48\input{ref4} % Execution model
49\input{ref5} % Expressions and conditions
50\input{ref6} % Simple statements
51\input{ref7} % Compound statements
52\input{ref8} % Top-level components
Fred Drakef6669171998-05-06 19:52:49 +000053
54\input{ref.ind}
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56\end{document}