Should I Learn Python or Ruby next?

[Stephen Hansen]

On 6/22/10 3:35 PM, geremy condra wrote:
> On Tue, Jun 22, 2010 at 1:58 AM, Josef Tupag <joseftupag at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I've been programming (when I do program) mainly in Perl for the last 10
>> years or so. But I've been itching to learn a new language for a while now,
>> and the two near the top of the list are Ruby and Python.
> 
> My advice is to learn something *really different* while you've got the itch.
> Work with Forth or (my favorite non-Python language) Haskell for six
> months and then come back to things like Python or Ruby- IME it helps
> to highlight where there are actual differences between languages and
> where there's just minor variations in approach.

I second Forth. Learning and using that was -- slightly painful, but
really invigorating. And I also second learning a functional language
(though I don't know if I'd inflict Haskell on anyone).

It bends your brain and makes you think in a different way. The mental
toolbox expands. New possibilities suddenly occur to you down the road
when you return to Python (or Perl, even) for some sane, regular sort of
coding.

Learning new languages = good.

-- 

   Stephen Hansen
   ... Also: Ixokai
   ... Mail: me+list/python (AT) ixokai (DOT) io
   ... Blog: http://meh.ixokai.io/

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