Please explain why python rocks...

[Kirby Urner]

"Gene C" <gchiaramonte at yahoo.com> wrote:

>Why not work through the python tutorial or get a copy of teach yourself
>python and try it for yourself?
>
>I noticed you didn't mention visual basic. Any reason why?
>
>G

I've you're going to get platform specific with VB, then why
not consider VFP (Visual FoxPro) as well.  OO, complete IDE,
interpreted like Python (i.e. interactive command line), and
in a lot of ways better than VB for various tasks (VFP is
a descendent of Xbase, i.e. Venus Project at JPL -> dbase II
-> dBase III... (Clipper, FoxBase, FoxPro...) -> FPW -> VFP.

Unlike many languages, VFP has a large enough user base to
support its own Advisor Communications magazine (along with
VB), plus has DevCons and the like.

I mention this because the vibrancy of the *user community* 
is an important consideration.  If you're going to dive into
a swimming pool, good to know you won't be too much on your
own.  Of course Python has an excellent user community (but
still needs the magazines (maybe the Edu-Sig thread will
spawn a Python for Teachers that goes to the schools (given
Python really is an excellent teaching language)).

Kirby