On 24 Jan, 04:59, Ben Finney <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > George Sakkis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > > On Jan 23, 8:14 pm, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > The annual Linux Journal survey is online now for any Linux users > > > who want to vote for Python. > > >http://www.linuxjournal.com/node/1006101 > > > ... > > 18. What is your favorite programming language? > > (15 choices, Python not included) > > > 19. What is your favorite scripting language? > > o Python > > o Perl > > (5 more choices) > > > Python is much more than a "scripting language" (whatever this > > means, other than a semi-derogatory term used by clueless PHBs). > > Sorry, I'll pass. > > I agree entirely. > > The term "script" has the strong connotation of a limited-purpose > program designed to solve a problem expressed almost entirely as a > simple series of steps. Languages that are often used to write such > scripts are usually referred to as "scripting languages", which > becomes a denigration because such a language need not have support > for much else. > > In contrast, the term "program" (and hence "programming language") > implies support for a much broader set of practices and solutions. > > This term seems quite prevalent among the Python core developers, > unfortunately. The 'distutils' module even has the term 'script' used > in its interface, to refer to the programs that are to be distributed. > > -- > \ "Money is always to be found when men are to be sent to the | > `\ frontiers to be destroyed: when the object is to preserve them, | > _o__) it is no longer so." -- Voltaire, _Dictionnaire Philosophique_ | > Ben Finney
Hi George, Ben, In the past I have taken the high ground by arguing that the usual tasks associated with scripting are very important and that languages like Python/Ruby can script as well as write substantial programs in the non-scripting sense. Therefore, if their language of choice does not encompass scripting then it is a lesser language. 'They' may look down on scripting but a lot of that is a mixture of ignorance and envy :-) - Paddy. -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
