Alternative Python Implementations
This site hosts the "traditional" implementation of Python (nicknamed CPython). A number of alternative implementations are available as well, namely
- PyPy (a fast implementation of Python with a JIT compiler)
- IronPython (Python running on .NET)
- MicroPython (Python running on microcontrollers and in the Web browser)
- Stackless Python (a branch of CPython supporting microthreads)
- Jython (Python running on the Java Virtual Machine)
Other parties have re-packaged CPython. These re-packagings often include more libraries or are specialized for a particular application:
- Anaconda Python (a full Python distribution for data management, analysis and visualization of large data sets)
- ActiveState ActivePython (commercial and community versions, including scientific computing modules)
- Nuitka (a compiler that packages user code with CPython into a static binary for improved performance and IP protection)
- pyodide (a Python distribution for the browser and Node.js based on WebAssembly)
- winpython (WinPython is a portable scientific Python distribution for Windows)
- pythonxy (Scientific-oriented Python Distribution based on Qt and Spyder)
- Conceptive Python SDK (targets business, desktop and database applications)
- PyIMSL Studio (a commercial distribution for numerical analysis – free for non-commercial use)
- eGenix PyRun (a portable Python runtime, complete with stdlib, frozen into a single 3.5MB - 13MB executable file)
If you want to host and run Python in the cloud, these implementations may be right for you:
- PythonAnywhere (freemium hosted Python installation which lets you run Python in the browser, e.g. for tutorials, showcases, etc.)