Linux Journal Survey

[Carl Banks]

On Feb 2, 12:03 pm, Albert van der Horst <alb... at spenarnc.xs4all.nl>
wrote:
> In article <56eb736f-5ba3-417a-a4c1-3a310a67c... at s12g2000prg.googlegroups.com>,
>
>
>
> Russ P. <Russ.Paie... at gmail.com> wrote:
> >On Jan 23, 7:42 pm, George Sakkis <george.sak... at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> On Jan 23, 8:14 pm, dwb... at gmail.com wrote:
>
> >> > The annual Linux Journal survey is online now for any Linux users who
> >> > want to vote for Python.  http://www.linuxjournal.com/node/1006101
>
> >> ...
>
> >> 18. What is your favorite programming language?
>
> >> (15 choices, Python not included)
>
> >> 19. What is your favorite scripting language?
>
> >> o Python
>
> >> o Perl
>
> >> (5 more choices)
>
> >> Python is much more than a "scripting language" (whatever this means,
> >> other than a semi-derogatory term used by clueless PHBs). Sorry, I'll
> >> pass.
>
> >> George
>
> >Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but I think of a Python
> >"script" as a flat source file with no (or few) functions or classes,
> >whereas a full-blown "program" has functions and classes. Both have
> >their place.
>
> >I agree it is unfortunate that the Linux World poll classified Python
> >as a "scripting language." I suspect they did that because Python is
> >not (typically) compiled and does not have static typing.
>
> In the context of linux a programming language is
> a language that generates an ELF binary executable to be stored
> in a /.../bin/ directory.
> A scripting language is a language whose programs are normally
> distributed in human-readable form. It is appropriate to call
> such a program a script. If the first two characters is "#!"
> and the execution bit is set, it is a script in the linux sense.
>
> So as far as I can tell it boils down to a clear technical
> distinction, and I'm sure they didn't mean offence.


Java doesn't compile to ELF binaries, last time I checked.


Carl Banks