=============================================
"Why is Python Installed on my Computer?" FAQ
=============================================

What is Python?
---------------

Python is a programming language.  It's used for many different applications.
It's used in some high schools and colleges as an introductory programming
language because Python is easy to learn, but it's also used by professional
software developers at places such as Google, NASA, and Lucasfilm Ltd.

If you wish to learn more about Python, start with the `Beginner's Guide to
Python <http://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide>`_.


Why is Python installed on my machine?
--------------------------------------

If you find Python installed on your system but don't remember installing it,
there are several possible ways it could have gotten there.

* Perhaps another user on the computer wanted to learn programming and installed
  it; you'll have to figure out who's been using the machine and might have
  installed it.
* A third-party application installed on the machine might have been written in
  Python and included a Python installation.  For a home computer, the most
  common such application is `PySol <http://pysolfc.sourceforge.net/>`_, a
  solitaire game that includes over 1000 different games and variations.
* Some Windows machines also have Python installed.  At this writing we're aware
  of computers from Hewlett-Packard and Compaq that include Python.  Apparently
  some of HP/Compaq's administrative tools are written in Python.
* All Apple computers running Mac OS X have Python installed; it's included in
  the base installation.


Can I delete Python?
--------------------

That depends on where Python came from.

If someone installed it deliberately, you can remove it without hurting
anything.  On Windows, use the Add/Remove Programs icon in the Control Panel.

If Python was installed by a third-party application, you can also remove it,
but that application will no longer work.  You should use that application's
uninstaller rather than removing Python directly.

If Python came with your operating system, removing it is not recommended.  If
you remove it, whatever tools were written in Python will no longer run, and
some of them might be important to you.  Reinstalling the whole system would
then be required to fix things again.

