What makes code "readable"? (was Re: Python vs. Perl, which is better to learn?)

[Aahz]

In article <MPG.17426236c3234a9c989681 at news.sover.net>,
Peter  <pcc at ecet.vtc.edu> wrote:
>
>In any case, I'd love to teach a class using Python. I like Python's 
>elegant regularity. I really like the way it forces the programmer to 
>indent properly (I can't tell you how many rants I've given my students 
>about indentation). Alas, right now we give our students Perl because 
>Perl is seen as a language they are more likely to encounter. Python is 
>currently considered "exotic" in my department... something only a 
>quirky person like me could get into.
>
>I will say that the students love Perl... but that's probably because 
>their prior programming experience is all C and C++. :-)

You know perfectly well that you could spend a week teaching Python, and
at the end of the class they'd be better *Perl* programmers.
-- 
Aahz (aahz at pythoncraft.com)           <*>         http://www.pythoncraft.com/

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