Python as replacement for PHP?

[Bart Nessux]

Dave Brueck wrote:

> Bart wrote:
>> Erik Johnson wrote:
>> > This is somewhat a NEWBIE question...
>> >
>> >     My company maintains a small RDBS driven website. We currently
>> >     generate
>> > HTML using PHP.  I've hacked a bit in Python, and generally think it is
>> > a rather cool language. I've done Perl and like it, there are a few
>> > features of PHP I like but overall am not too excited about it. I have
>> > found PHP's strtotime() function to be quite flexible and handy and we
>> > make liberal use of it.
>> >         6) All the other standard evangeslistic points about why Python
>> >         is
>> > better than <your favorite language here>, some of which may be valid
>> > to
> us,
>> > some probably not. To those that have used PHP: what am I potentially
> losing
>> > that Python really can't replace?
>> >
>> >     So, I'm hoping there are some people out there that actually have
>> >     some
>> > expereience with both Python & PHP and can give me some solid, informed
>> > advice about PHP vs. Python, in general and particularly on the
>> > following points: (NOT Python evangelism please: I've already heard
>> > most of it, I've espoused a pretty good dose myself - frankly, I'm
>> > willing to buy most of
> it,
>> > but I've got a serious business decision to make here).
>>
>> When it comes to dynamic, DB driven sites, PHP is the only way to go.
>> Python is not even close to being suited for this task. PHP claims to be
>> a general-purpose language, but I do not know anyone who uses it for
>> anything other than dynamic Web programming.
>>
>> A serious business decision? PHP would be the only winner here. You
>> should not even be considering another language for this, it borders on
>> stupidity.
> 
> What on earth?! Each is entitled to his or her own opinion, but this is a
> bit over the top. The OP would do well to search the Google archives as
> this topic has come up many times, and there are many who disagree with
> the above opinion. Even if in the end the OP decided to stick with PHP
> (personally I wouldn't), considering Python definitely does _not_ border
> on stupidity.
> 
> -Dave

Sorry, I disagree. As a business decision, it does border on stupidity. Why
contemplate doing something with Python that would be tedious and difficult
at best when PHP can do this task easily and quickly??? From a business
(read practical point of view) it's stupid. From a religious (Mac fanatic
like point of view), it makes sense.

The OP spoke of a DB driven dynamic Web site. One cannot think of such a
thing without naturally thinking of PHP... python should not even come to
mind for this task. Backend/server-side processing, sure, but not on the
frontend. Use the RIGHT tool for the job. Python isn't the right tool here.