The Python language has become the most popular
language in infrastructure automation because it is super
easy to pick up and doesn’t have all of the crazy syntax
and structure that you see in languages like Java or C.
It’s based on the English language and is not only
readable but extendable and powerful enough to be the
one language you can count on to be able to get things
accomplished in your day-to-day life. Those repetitive
tasks that suck your productivity dry can be automated
with just a few lines of code. Plus, due to the popularity
of Python, millions of sample scripts provided by users
like you as well as engineers at Cisco are free on GitHub
for you to use and modify.
The software company TIOBE has published a list of the
most popular programming languages each year for the
past 10 years, and Python has consistently made the list.
As of December 2019, it was ranked number 3. In
addition, a significant number of job postings reference
Python programming skills as a requirement for
successful candidates. Python is used in AI, machine
learning, big data, robotics, security, penetration testing,
and many other disciplines that are being transformed
by automation. Needless to say, learning Python has
become a differentiator for skilled engineers, and it is
part of the core tool set for DevOps and cloud
operational models.
The 200-901 DevNet Associate DEVASC exam is not a
Python test per se. You will not be asked to answer
esoteric questions about techniques and syntax that only
a Python wizard would know. The exam ensures that you
are competent enough with Python to know how to
interact with Cisco hardware through APIs and to use
Cisco software development kits and frameworks such as
pyATS and Genie. It is a very good idea to continue
learning Python and spend some time in either online
courses or self-study via books focused on the Python
language itself; you should also spend lots of time