Python too slow for real world

[James Logajan]

Roy Smith wrote:
[elided]
> I hope this doesn't sound as bad as I fear it might, but part of being a
> good programmer (or at least a good computer scientist) is to understand
> performance issues like this.
[elided]

I disagree with the assumption behind that statement. The assumption Roy
makes is that only trained programmers or computer scientists will be using
a tool like Python. I believe the audience that would benefit most from an
easy to use language like Python are "Subject Matter Experts" (SMEs). An SME
knows their field (e.g. accountant, biologist, physicist, network manager,
etc.) and may find need to automate or compute something whose scope or size
does not justify calling in a computer programmer or scientist. This is
where a simple to learn language such as Python finds a ready home.

When an SME finds the tool too slow, it would be nice if they could post
their problem to a group like this without fear of insult, intended or not.