Grant Edwards <grant.b.edwa...@gmail.com>: > I'm always amazed how long it takes people to accomplish simple tasks > when they refuse to use anything other than eclipse and a web browser.
Now I can bring this back to Python. I have had a huge task of arranging 1000+ soccer games in a tournament. I could have used a web service for the purpose, but chose to use Python instead -- to great success! It's actually not about combining Unix tools but using programming to express ad hoc relationships between data. I could set up the games and have the program verify the diverse and individualistic boundary conditions are obeyed. Whenever customers come up with impromptu requests and change their minds, the Python program can accommodate the sudden needs with ease. The Web service owner was dismayed that I wasn't using their fancy web service. There was a time in computing when people fancied everybody should know how to program and apply the skill to everyday tasks. I don't think many people have such misconceptions anymore. However, it's a bit depressing because I have had a tremendous advantage several times when I've been able to solve my problems with programming. And Python's the obvious choice for the job. So today at 3:15 pm I was sent an Excel template I should use to deliver the game schedule. By 3:40 pm I had modified my program to generate the desired Excel format (with openpyxl) and sent the schedule to the referee administrator as an attachment. I told him I could send him a different format if he needed it, and advised him he should be prepared for multiple iterations as new requests arrive from customers. I wouldn't have managed the task with the mouse and the clunky web service. Marko -- https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
