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Does Python help with the no-Unix handicap?

dana_booth dana at oz.net
Mon Jun 12 02:11:44 EDT 2000 
mkx at excite.com wrote:

mec: In many Perl vs. "other scripting language" discussions, I have often
mec: seen Perlers state that those who dislike Perl's syntax and structure
mec: are often non-Unix types, and thus are not used to common Unix
mec: concepts. And, since Perl was born as a Unix admin tool, us "Windows
mec: types" will likely be lost.

mec: So, I come now to Python. After reading much about it's ease of use
mec: and readability advantages, I see it may be a better alternative. In
mec: most cases, I can actually get a concept of what the code is doing,
mec: without picking up a reference book - after only a week of
mec: experimentation.

mec: So my question is this: Is Python a more "Windows-friendly" language?

Okay, I couldn't leave this alone. :)

I think "Windows-friendly" is relative. I know Windows only programmers who
can out-Perl just about anyone. (FWIW, I'm in the UNIX crowd. :)

Anyway, the reason to choose to learn Python is not because you use Windows,
but because it's a great language for either platform. Learning the concept
of objects is a snap, coding with Python. The code is so clean and
structured... How many times have you written something in Perl, just to
have some Perl hacker go out of his way to show you up by doing the same
thing in less code? :) Doesn't happen with Python, there's a right way, and
there's the way that don't work. Fortunately, the right way is really easy.
Use one of the graphical modules to construct graphical applications...

Yesterday, in this NG, I asked about a Python interface for MySQL. I had a
reply later in the day, grabbed the module, and before I went to bed, was
communicating with my company's database with a graphical client made with
Python. The same code worked from my kids Windows computer, after I
installed the MySQL module there, too.

Can't say enough about the language... Way too easy to learn. In just a few
hours of farting around with a reference book on your lap, you can be making
useful stuff. Try "Python - Essential Reference" by David M. Beazley. Great
book.

-- 

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Dana Booth <dana at oz.net>
Tacoma, Wa., USA

key at pgpkeys.mit.edu:11371
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