Foot in mouth disease

[Stuart D. Gathman]

On Sat, 02 Nov 2002 09:08:01 -0500, Derek Thomson wrote:

> As for refactoring, Python's advantage here are it's dynamic typing, and
> run-time flexibility. Try altering a Java application on the fly. It
> can't be done. In Python you can, for example, muck about with a GUI as
> it's running, to see what works and what doesn't. This is *great*.

While the "5 x LOC" factor makes it more painful, Java is also dynamically
typed.  However, Java types are immutable - so dynamic type manipulation
uses a functional programming model: you create new types rather than
modifying old type instances.

The new type can have the same name if it is in a new ClassLoader.  IMO,
this is a superior way to handle dynamic types, since your changes can
only disturb code referencing your new ClassLoader.  This is essential
when making dynamic changes to a running production system.

> Then there's the fact that it takes between 5-10 lines of Java to do the
> same thing in Python, depending on what you're doing. Having a very high
> level language, as opposed to a high level one, definitely helps

Amen.  And a big THANKYOU to the Jython team!

-- 
	      Stuart D. Gathman <stuart at bmsi.com>
Business Management Systems Inc.  Phone: 703 591-0911 Fax: 703 591-6154
"Confutatis maledictis, flamis acribus addictis" - background song for
a Microsoft sponsored "Where do you want to go from here?" commercial.