Guest Editor's Introduction: Python: Batteries Included

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Our special theme this issue is the computer programming language Python and the increasing role it plays in scientific projects. Free and universally available, Python comes with a vast standard library containing support for nearly every area of computer science. An even more extensive set of third-party tools and modules covers additional tasks, from managing a Web site to doing a fast Fourier transform to distributed or parallel programming. The Python motto "batteries included" is meant to convey the idea that Python comes with everything you need.