Why is Python popular, while Lisp and Scheme aren't?

[Ng Pheng Siong]

According to Brad Hards  <bhards at bigpond.net.au>:
>
> 2. Availability of useful tools, especially libraries (affects design choices 
> based on programmer productivity). Also includes development environments.
>
> I am not familiar with Lisp, but I perceive that it has problems with 2,3,4 
> and 5.

For 2, do you have "freely available" as the underlying assumption?


> I'm not really familiar with Perl either, but I think Python is better at 5 - 
> I'm certainly amazed at the tolerance people have for questions that are 
> readily answered in a number of on-line tutorials, and in both the Python 
> books that I have (Learning Python and the Python Cookbook). In the end, the 
> friendly attitude may be the killer feature.

I don't keep stats, but I believe every now and then some old Python hand
has been overheard saying that c.l.py isn't as nice/interesting as before. 


-- 
Ng Pheng Siong <ngps at netmemetic.com> * http://www.netmemetic.com