Monday October 25, 9:15 am Eastern TimeCompany Press Release
The Corporation for National Research Initiatives Announces Python Consortium Created
Industry and government unite to advance leading programming language
RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 25, 1999--
The Corporation for National Research Initiatives today announced
the formation of the Python Consortium.
Python is an increasingly popular high-level computer programming
language, especially suitable for cross-platform rapid application
development, website creation, and steering of scientific
applications. Python also seamlessly integrates with Java, through the
JPython compiler. Python and JPython are Open Source products; source
and binaries are made available for free through the Python and
JPython websites, http://www.python.org and http://www.jpython.org.
In the Python Consortium, partners in industry and government
join forces to ensure Python's continued support and development.
Initial Consortium partners are the Lawrence Livermore National
Laborarory in Livermore, CA; Hewlett-Packard in Cupertino, CA; Digital
Creations in Fredricksburg, VA; Interet Corporation in Millburn, NJ;
and Foretec Seminars in Reston, VA.
``Python is a major component of our e-speak solutions and is our
preferred language for end-user programming,'' says Joe Ellsworth, R&D
section manager of Hewlett-Packard's OSO/e-speak division.
``When we discovered Python, we abandoned further development of
our own steering language and switched to Python. We've never
regretted this decision,'' says Paul Dubois of the Lawrence Livermore
National Laborarory.
``Python is the ultimate programming language for us. We use it
for everything,'' says Paul Everitt, president of Digital Creations.
``We find it is three to ten times faster to program in Python
than in C, and since source code is available there is little risk,''
says James C. Ahlstrom, vice president of Interet Corporation.
``I'm very pleased with the support from the Python Consortium
members. The formation of the Consortium marks Python's transition
into the real world,'' says Guido van Rossum, Python's creator and the
Consortium's technical director. Van Rossum, who created the Python
language in the early 1990s while working for CWI, the Dutch Center
for Mathematics and Computer Science in Amsterdam, joined CNRI in 1995
and has continued to be the lead developer of the language as it
gained popularity through the Internet and the World-Wide Web.
About LLNL:
The Lawrence Livermore National Laborarory (LLNL) uses Python for
steering of large numerical simulations and the construction of data
analysis tools. Python is used as the key technology for tying
together various scientific models and a supporting database,
graphics, and mathematics infrastructure. Python is used in such
diverse programs as the Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative
(ASCI), modeling of magnetic fusion experiments, and in software for
climate data analysis. LLNL also sponsors the development of a
collection of support modules for Python. For more information, see
htt://www.llnl.gov .
About Digital Creations:
Digital Creations has produced probably the most successful
Python application to date, a comprehensive dynamic website management
tool called ZOPE (Z Object Publishing Environment;
http://www.zope.org). Like Python, ZOPE itself is distributed as Open
Source. For more information, see http://www.digicool.com .
About Interet Corporation:
Interet provides financial optimization and analysis software to
the leveraged lease marketplace. Interet's software is used by banks
and lease investors in major money centers around the globe.
About Foretec Seminars:
Foretec Seminars, Inc., formed in 1997 as a subsidiary of CNRI,
currently manages the International World Wide Web Conferences for
IW3C2. Foretec is also responsible for managing various functions of
the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Secretariat for CNRI
including arranging IETF meetings, and for organizing the yearly
International Python Conference. For more information, see
http://www.foretec.com .
About CNRI:
The Corporation for National Research Initiatives (CNRI) is a
not-for-profit organization formed in 1986 to foster research and
development for the National Information Infrastructure. CNRI promotes
various collaborative activities that create productive synergies
among government agencies, universities, and private organizations;
undertakes targeted research in technologies for digital objects
rights management, and high-speed networking; and supports various
educational initiatives in the public interest. For more information,
see http://www.cnri.reston.va.us.
About Python:
More information about Python can be obtained from the official
Python website, http://www.python.org. Specifics about the Python
Consortium are at http://www.python.org/consortium/ .
Contact:
Python Consortium, Reston
Guido van Rossum, 703/620-8990
Email: guido@python.org
