Why Python is like BASIC ... java "vs" python

[Fernando Perez]

john coppola wrote:

> OK fellas, I'm gonna break it down for you.  Python is
> nothing like BASIC or perl.  Neither is Java like C++.
>  I will admit that I used BASIC.  A friend turned me
> on to Python.  I never looked back.  You cannot
> compare things on basis of how they appear or the
> syntax of the language or certain similarities.  You
> have to know what problem the language is trying to
> solve.  What is its philosophy.

[snip...]
 
> You will begin to see that basic and python are
> nothing alike even though they are both interpreted.
> In what way is basic interpreted.  In what way is perl
> interpreted?  Thats like saying a fish is a whale
> because they both swim in water.  Java is not at all
> similar to C++.  Different.

Sheesh, thanks! For a moment this newsgroup was about to close while we all 
moved to BASIC. I had already started uninstalling Python from all my 
machines and looking for good BASIC modules for 3d data visualization. I 
heard Guido was hastily applying for special discounts for VisualBasic 
books, too.

But now that you've saved the day and clarified things for us, we can 
happily return to our cozy little world of clean, beautiful, expressive 
ophidians. (And by the way, a whale is a mammal, not a fish).
 
> Sorry to be so harsh.  Long day..

Sorry to be so harsh.  Long day..

Cheers,

f.