Richard Hanson wrote:
[NB: Blatant Python advocacy (and OP self-promotion).]
Jerry Pournelle commends Python and Guido in "The Annual Orchid
and Onions Parade" portion of his Chaos Manor Reviews column:
<http://www.chaosmanorreviews.com/oa/2009/20090109_col.php>
A reader [full-disclosure: that reader was me] nominated Python
for an Orchid for Jerry's Orchid and Onions awards for 2008:
'''
I nominate the computer language Python for an Orchid for 2008.
This last year, Python broke through into worldwide popularity.
The volunteer team led by BDFL (benevolent dictator for life)
Guido van Rossum released "Python 3000" (Python 3.0) before
year's end as well as releasing the next production-line 2.x
version, Python 2.6.
Python -- and Linux (the kernel) with its "BDFL" Linus Torvalds
-- show that benevolent dictatorships are great forms of
organization which can easily beat out other forms of cooperation
in software development unable to escape Pournelle's Iron Law,
whether proprietary *or* open-source software [...].
'''
Jerry Pournelle followed up with:
'''
I completely agree with this. Python deserves a large Orchid.
It's useful, well structured, easy to learn, and powerful. I use
it to write quick filter functions among other things. I'm
pleased to hand Guido a big Orchid. [...]
'''
I add: Great job, Guido and all!
Great nomination. In October he wrote
"Languages to Begin With
If you want to try learning what programming is like, I recommend you
start with Python. (Python.org) It's free, it's fast, and there are a
lot of example programs you can look through. The Wikipedia article on
Python gives a good description of the language and its history, as well
as an example of a Python program. Don't let the capability of the
language fool you into thinking you need to learn a lot before you can
do anything: you can write simple good programs in Python within a
couple of hours of beginning. O'Reilly has several books on the
language; I recommend Learning Python as a beginning, and those more
serious about learning the language need the O'Reilly Python Cookbook —
at least if you are like me and more comfortable learning languages by
studying examples.
Peter Glaskowsky notes that "Python is a language that relies on dynamic
typing and other kinds of looseness in order to increase programmer
productivity," and may not be entirely suitable for learning good
programming practices. I have to agree, but it is free, it does work,
and I confess I use it when I have a job that needs doing fast. In my
case I often craft filters and other specialized text processing, and
Python is excellent for that. I've never attempted to write a large and
complex Python program."
--
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