Textbook of Python

Also known as: Python Software Foundation

The Python Software Foundation (PSF) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing the Python programming language and supporting the Python community. Founded in 2001, the PSF holds the intellectual property rights for Python, manages the Python Package Index (PyPI), funds development sprints and conferences, awards grants for community projects, and employs several developers who work on CPython and the packaging ecosystem.

The PSF organises and supports PyCon — the largest annual Python conference — and provides fiscal sponsorship for regional PyCons around the world. It also manages the Python trademark and the python.org website. The PSF is governed by a board of directors elected by its members, which include anyone who contributes to the Python community.

The PSF plays a crucial role in Python's sustainability. It funds critical infrastructure (PyPI costs millions of dollars per year to operate), sponsors diversity initiatives, and provides legal protection for the Python trademark. The PSF's membership is open: anyone who uses, contributes to, or advocates for Python can apply. The "Python is for everyone" ethos is central to the PSF's mission.