Python for Unix and Linux System Administration

Chapter 1. Introduction

Why Python?

If you are a system administrator, it is likely that you have encountered Perl, Bash, ksh, or some other scripting language. You may have even used one or more yourself. Scripting languages are often used to do repetitive, tedious work at a rate and with an accuracy that far surpass what you could accomplish without them. All languages are tools. They are simply a means to get work done. They have value only insofar as they help you get your job done better. We believe that Python is a valuable tool, specifically because it enables you to get your work done efficiently.

So is Python better than Perl, Bash, Ruby, or any other language? It’s really difficult to put that sort of qualitative label on a programming language, since the tool is so closely tied to the thought process of the programmer who is using it. Programming is a subjective, deeply personal activity. For the language to be excellent, it must fit the person using it. So we’re not going to argue that Python is better, but we will explain the reasons that we believe Python can be an excellent choice. We’ll also explain why it is a great fit for performing sysadmin tasks.

The first reason that we think that Python is excellent is that it is easy to learn. If a language can’t help you become productive pretty quickly, the lure of that language is severely diminished. Why would you want to spend weeks or months studying a language before you are able to write a program that does something ...