Re: [Nolug] Python : Confusion

One interesting thing I've noticed with the advent of Python is that many its hardcore advocates hold a programming philosophy that had been severely underserved by previous offerings. In some ways they act as a group of formerly disenfranchised programmers suddently given a seat at the table.

Another observation is that I do not know of any people that love Perl who switched to Python. I know of many people that painfully put up with Perl who switched over and became huge fans of Python. So I am guessing that of hardcore Python users, only a small percentage used to love Perl and now love Python. On the otherhand, I think that languages like Ruby (and even functional language de jours like, haskell) have a higher success rate at attracting those who actually have good things to say about Perl.

Brett

On Sat, Dec 06, 2008 at 05:36:23PM -0600, Ron Johnson wrote:
> On 12/06/08 16:18, Dennis J Harrison Jr wrote:
> >I see a few people on the list who are confused as to what python is.
> >
> >Python is not a scripting language.
>
> Of course it is. The beauty is that it makes easy the task of
> writing Really Large Scripts.
>
> > It can certainly be used as one
> >if configured in that sense... Just like anything.
>
> Show me a COBOL script.
>
> >Python is one of the only Object Oriented languages available that you
>
> "One of the only" is an extraordinary weasel phrase.
>
> >can do useful things with in very little time.
>
> IIRC, it started as a procedural language. Even if it didn't,
> "procedural orientation" has been there since the beginning.
>
> >You can use regex and unicode as you will.
> >
> >OOTB you get support for : HTTP, FTP, SMTP, XML-RPC, POP, IMAP, CGI,
> >and others I am sure I can't remember right now.
>
> What does this have to do with whether or not it's a scripting language?
>
> >You get an interactive shell to dev and test with.
>
> And...
>
> >You can use Rpython and then have pypy generate c for you. (If it
> >isn't fast enough, and stackless won't give you what you want)
>
> Only with a subset of Python syntax.
>
> >Take a look at the python standard lib:
> >http://docs.python.org/library/
>
> Been doing so since v1.5.1.
>
> >You can also pay attention to:
> >http://www.python.org/doc/faq/general/#is-python-a-good-language-for-beginning-programmers
> >
> >And for examples of use:
> >http://www.python.org/about/success/
> >
> >I know that perception is reality... meaning that I can not 'prove' to
> >anyone that python is a better language for beginning programmers then
> >any other language. I personally believe that and would be happy to
> >help anyone get started.
>
> Python was *designed* as a teaching language, and it does a very
> good job at it.
>
> --
> Ron Johnson, Jr.
> Jefferson LA USA
>
> How does being physically handicapped make me Differently-Abled?
> What different abilities do I have?
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Louisiana Optical Network Initiative
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