Python has never been as speedy as C or Java, but several projects are in the works to get the lead out of the language.

Tauthon, originally labeled Python 2.8 but rechristened so as not to be confused with an official Python implementation, is one of the most straightforward efforts to keep Python 2 alive.

Python programming: Microsoft's latest beginners' course looks at developing for NASA projects Microsoft and NASA offer some ideas about how you could apply Python for space exploration.