page_title: Guido van Rossum
section_title: Python
hierarchical_section_title: Guido van Rossum / Work / Python
caption_attribution_description: English: Python's chief designer Guido van Rossum at the Google I/O Developer's Conference in San Francisco, California. Español: Guido van Rossum, autor principal de Python, en la conferencia para desarrolladores Google I/O de San Francisco, California, EE.UU.
context_page_description: Guido van Rossum is a Dutch programmer best known as the creator of the Python programming language, for which he was the "Benevolent dictator for life" until he stepped down from the position in July 2018. He is currently a member of the Python Steering Council, however he has withdrawn from nominations for the 2020 Python Steering Council.
context_section_description: In December 1989, Van Rossum had been looking for a "'hobby' programming project that would keep [him] occupied during the week around Christmas" as his office was closed when he decided to write an interpreter for a "new scripting language [he] had been thinking about lately: a descendant of ABC that would appeal to Unix/C hackers". He attributes choosing the name "Python" to "being in a slightly irreverent mood (and a big fan of Monty Python's Flying Circus)".
  He has explained that Python's predecessor, ABC, was inspired by SETL, noting that ABC co-developer Lambert Meertens had "spent a year with the SETL group at NYU before coming up with the final ABC design".
  In July 2018, Van Rossum announced that he would be stepping down from the position of BDFL of the Python programming language.
caption: Van Rossum at the 2008 Google I/O Developer's Conference
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