python vs perl lines of code

[Michael Tobis]

"The plural of anecdote is not data."

It's a pithy quote, but it isn't QOTW in my book, simply because it
isn't true in general. Talk to some paleoclimatologists.

There is no way to get uniform measures of ancient climate. What should
we do then? Should we ignore the information we have? Are the
fortuitously preserved fossils of the very deep past to be ignored just
because we can't get an unbiased sample?

In fact, the more difficult it is to get systematic data, the more
valuable the anecdote.

There is a number that represents the character ratio for equivalent
skill applied to equivalent tasks across all domains to which both
languages are applied. A single programmer's results on this matter do
in fact constitute a sample. A single sample is not a very good
estimator, but it is not devoid of skill or information either.

In the present case Edward gave us some advice that he thought he was
making a fair comparison, one which would appear counterintuitive to
anyone who has worked in both languages. Perlists tend to giggle and
cackle every time they save a keystroke; Pythonistas do not have this
personality quirk. If Python is nevertheless terser it is a strong
argument in Python's favor vis-a-vis Perl.

Edward also asked if others had similar experiences. If others did, the
assemblage of their opinions would in fact consttitute data. I have no
idea why people are giving him such grief over this request.

My only data point, er, anecdotal evidence, is this. To take things to
an unrealistic extreme, consider the puzzle at http://pycontest.net
(Python Golf). When I first thought about this, I assumed that Perl
would defeat Python in the character count, but as I worked at the
puzzle I came to the (to me) counterintuitive realization that it
probably would not. I'd be interested in seeing the results of an
inter-language golf contest.

Of course, such games don't tell us much about real code, but I'm
inclined to agree with Edward's impression that Python is, in practice,
terse compared to Perl, and I, too, would like to hear about other
examples, and because I think the plural of "anecdote" is, in fact,
"data".

mt