The Python Paradox, by Paul Graham

GnuVince writes "Paul Graham has posted a new article to his website that he called "The Python Paradox" which refines the statements he made in "Great Hackers" about Python programmers being better hackers than Java programmers. He basically says that since Python is not the kind of language that lands you a job like Java, those who learn it seek more than simply financial benefits, they seek better tools. Very interesting read."

Comments

Python in the workplace

[jobeus]

Interestingly enough, knowing Python did get me a job... My company works a lot with Java too, but my job specifically deals with about 90% Python, and 10% Java... I never thought there was a use for it when I learned it in University...

Too bad I'm maintaining code with two letter variable names all the time though, and now it's soured the language for me as well... heh.

Re:The way source code looks

[r.jimenezz]

Mmm...

for( SomeType s : collection )
doSomething( s );

I think something along those lines is already possible in Java :)

Python jobs - got resumes?

[otisg]

Who says Python is not good for getting jobs? I know at least 2 places in New York City where you should send your resume, if you are a good Python hacker: http://www.wirelessgeneration.com/ and http://www.divmod.org/ (also .com).

Re:The way source code looks

[Anonymous Coward]

Sure, with these toy examples...

But the thing to keep in mind is, the Ruby version is just a method on the collection, it is NOT a language construct. You can write your own like this:

# do it in a random order
collection.each_random { |x| x.do_something }

# do it to every other item
collection.each_even { |x| ... }

# show a busy cursor during the operation
collection.each_with_busy_cursor { |x| ... }

You really don't realize the power of Ruby until you start coding BEYOND what you can already do in other languages.

And if you play with Lisp, the *whole language* is fluid like this. For instance in a lisp program I needed to slow down a sequence of operations by sleeping in between. I wrote a macro that took a block of code and inserted (sleep 1) between every operation:

(sleep-between 1
(foo)
(bar)
(baz))

How do you even begin to do this kind of stuff in, e.g., VB?

Re:Source?

[kjd]

Google turned this up, which cites a source: http://www.mindview.net/WebLog/log-0037

Re:The way source code looks

[cliveholloway]

Err, two things:

1. You're not dereferencing the hashref ( $hr->{$_} )
2. You're not doing what was asked - you're iterating through keys of a hash rather than an array.

Damn Perl trolls ;-)

for (@x) { do_something($_); }

# or even simpler
do_something($_) for @x;

cLive ;-)

Re:He likes Small Is Better, which isn't Java

[Frater 219]

My point is this: Graham seems to really like the "small is better" approach, for which interpreted languages really shine.

Actually, the language that Graham is most associated with is Common Lisp, which is neither a small nor an interpreted language. It is relatively large for a Lisp dialect (much larger than Scheme), and a compiler is part of the specification.

(I'm not counting Arc, since it doesn't exist yet.)