Initially released in 1991, Python is one of the most flexible and accessible scripting languages around.  It operates on nearly every operating system, though its roots were built for the Amoeba operating system.  The history of the language is incredibly interesting but suffice it to say that the language is one of the most popular and accessible to IT professionals.  Python is used in everything from automation frameworks to data processing and analytical systems – mostly thanks to its impressive library of extensions.  It also has the added benefit of working on nearly every conceivable operating system (and ships by default on many Linux distributions).

Like the chapter about setting up a modern PowerShell development environment for the SolarWinds Orion API, we’ll do the same for Python.  It’s an interesting start, but we think that’ll only be the beginning of your work with Python.

This has been greatly influenced by Get Started Tutorial for Python in Visual Studio Code [Microsoft].

Developing with Python

Python is one of the most widely used scripting languages available and it supported on nearly every operating system and hardware platform.  In its most basic form, the language is a text only language and does not need a development environment.  However, it’s easier to organize, manage, and develop with the framework provided by such a setup.

Co-hosting with Orion Platform Products

There is no rule that states that you cannot run Python on your SolarWinds Platform products, but our recommendation has, and will remain to be, to run it on a separate computer adjacent to your SolarWinds Products.  The most notable benefit is that you insulate your monitoring and management infrastructure from any updates and/or changes needed on your development machines.