Choosing a new language

[Tim Roberts]

Xah Lee <xah at xahlee.org> wrote:
>
>Let me tell you, since you know PHP, that PHP and Perl are practically
>identical in their high-levelness or expressiveness or field of
>application (and syntax), and, Perl and Python are pretty much the
>same except their syntax.

I agree with the fundamental sentiment here, but it's important to note
that the syntax difference between Perl and Python is an enormous
consideration.

The biggest problem with Perl's syntax, in my view, is that it is darned
near impossible to write Perl code that can be read and understood later,
by anyone, including the author.  I've used both languages extensively, and
even with all of that experience, it takes considerable effort for me to go
back to the Perl scripts I wrote 4 or 5 years ago and grasp what they
actually do.

With Python, on the other hand, much of the source code reads like English
prose.  It's certainly possible to code "write-only" sequences by abusing
comprehensions and generators, but obfuscations like that are the exception
rather than the rule.
-- 
Tim Roberts, timr at probo.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.