Choosing Python

[adaworks at sbcglobal.net]

The choice is made.   The school where I teach has finally
made its decision to teach Python first.    For several years,
we have been teaching Java first, and before that, C++.

I introduced Python in one of my courses and got a lot of
flak from some of the other faculty.  I also introduced Ruby,
and got even more flak.   In my course, the students loved
Python for its simplicity, its power, and its flexibility.

It is clear that Python is not the ultimate, one-size-fits-all
language.  No language is.  However, for a beginner's
language it is nearly ideal.   Further, it is a great language
for a wide range of serious programming problems.

For large-scale, safety-critical software, I still prefer Eiffel
or Ada.   Java could vanish tomorrow and, with Python
and Ruby available, no one would miss Java at all.  As for
C++, for any serious software systems, it should always be
the language of last resort.   C++, as an object-oriented
assembler, is pretty much its own virus.

Already, students are turning in really good projects in Python,
and some in Ruby.   Not all the professors are on-board with
this decision, but in time I think they will be.

Richard Riehle