What is GIS Programming All About?

Python has quickly become the most popular scripting language for GIS applications.

1. Interpreters vs. Compliers

There are two types of programming or "code". Scripts and Complied. Scripts are "interpreted" by programs called interpreters. They work by interpreting one line of text from your script at a time and sending it to the computer's "processor" to be executed (or "run"). Scripts are easier to write but slower than compiled programs. Compiled programs are "compiled" into entire programs that only contain codes that computers understand (machine code). Programs such as Microsoft Word and even the operating system itself are a complied programs.