Python in a Nutshell, 2nd Edition

Chapter 3. The Python Interpreter

To develop software systems in Python, you write text files that contain Python source code and documentation. You can use any text editor, including those in Integrated Development Environments (IDEs). You then process the source files with the Python compiler and interpreter. You can do this directly, implicitly inside an IDE, or via another program that embeds Python. The Python interpreter also lets you execute Python code interactively, as do IDEs.