Python is a high-level, interpreted, general-purpose programming language known for its clear syntax, readability, and extensive standard library. Its design philosophy emphasizes code readability with its notable use of significant whitespace, making Python code relatively easy to learn, write, and maintain. It is an interpreted language, which means that code can be executed line by line, making it excellent for interactive development and rapid prototyping. Python's versatility and a massive ecosystem of third-party libraries have made it immensely popular across a wide range of domains, including web development, data science, machine learning, and, importantly, test automation and instrument control.
For controlling programmable power supplies and other instruments, Python is an excellent choice. Libraries like PyVISA provide a powerful and easy-to-use wrapper around the standard VISA library, allowing programmers to connect to and control instruments using just a few lines of simple Python code. For example, controlling a power supply might be as simple as instrument.write("VOLT 5.0") and instrument.query("MEAS:CURR?"). The combination of its simple syntax, powerful libraries, and its ability to easily process and analyze the resulting measurement data makes Python a preferred language for many engineers and scientists creating automated test scripts and applications.