# Python (/en/docs/guide/getting-started/python)
Install with pip, use the typed dataclass API, and write chart-language-independent checks with enums.
*For: developers*
## Installation [#installation]
```bash
pip install x-iztro
```
Requires Python 3.10 or later. The wheel contains a native extension compiled by PyO3 (abi3), so
there are no runtime dependencies at all — no pydantic, and no Rust toolchain on the machine.
Only needed when you are changing the Rust side:
```bash
pip install maturin
PYO3_USE_ABI3_FORWARD_COMPATIBILITY=1 maturin develop --features python
```
## Charting [#charting]
```python
from x_iztro import Astro
astro = Astro()
# language defaults to "zh-CN"; pass "en-US" for an English chart
chart = astro.by_solar("2000-8-16", 2, "female", language="en-US")
print(chart.solar_date) # Gregorian date
print(chart.lunar_date) # lunar date
print(chart.chinese_date) # the four pillars
print(chart.time, chart.time_range)
print(chart.sign, chart.zodiac) # zodiac sign, zodiac animal
print(chart.soul, chart.body) # soul star, body star
print(chart.five_elements_class) # Five Elements class
```
```text
2000-8-16
二〇〇〇年七月十七
geng chen - jia shen - bing woo - geng yin
Tiger hour 03:00~05:00
leo dragon
rebel scholar
wood 3rd
```
`lunar_date` is the one field that stays in Chinese in an English chart: the lunar date is written
with Chinese numerals, and `二〇〇〇年七月十七` is the 17th day of the 7th lunar month, 2000.
`chinese_date` is the four pillars romanized in pinyin — `geng chen` is 庚辰, `bing woo` is 丙午.
`solar_date` echoes the input string verbatim, without zero padding — pass `"2000-08-16"` and you
get `"2000-08-16"` back. For a structured date use `chart.raw_dates`.
Chart from a lunar date with `by_lunar`, which takes one extra argument, `is_leap_month`.
Everything after `gender` (`is_leap_month`, `fix_leap`, `language`, `config`) is keyword-only —
two adjacent booleans passed positionally can be swapped without an error:
```python
chart = astro.by_lunar("2000-7-17", 2, "female", is_leap_month=False, language="en-US")
```
The returned `Astrolabe` is a dataclass with annotated fields, so editors autocomplete it. Every
text field is already translated into the chart language.
## Next [#next]
The example above only touches the charting entry point. The full API — locating the twelve palaces,
star predicates, flying stars, horoscopes, the star-placement module, data tables and translation —
lives under **[Python API](/en/docs/python)**, where every function, class and method has its own
entry with real run output and edge-case notes.