sobering observation, python vs. perl

[Marko Rauhamaa]

"Charles T. Smith" <cts.private.yahoo at gmail.com>:

> Actually, I saw a study some years ago that concluded that python
> could be both slower and faster than perl, but that perl had much less
> deviation than python. I took that and accepted it, but was surprised
> now that in exactly the field of application that I've traditionally
> used perl, it really is better, er... faster.
>
> Furthermore, the really nice thing about python is its OO, but I've
> really neglected looking into that with perl's OO capabilities.

I haven't had such log processing needs as you, nor has it come down to
performance in such a way. Do use the best tool for the job.

(When it comes to freely formatted logs, gleaning information from them
is somewhat of a lost cause. I've done my best to move to rigorously
formatted logs that are much more amenable to post processing.)

Perl might be strong on its home turf, but I am a minimalist and
reductionist -- Perl was intentionally designed to be a maximalist,
imitating the principles of natural languages. Python has concise,
crystal-clear semantics that are convenient to work with.

Compare Perl (<URL: http://www.perlmonks.org/?node_id=98357>):

   my $str = "I have a dream";
   my $find = "have";
   my $replace = "had";
   $find = quotemeta $find; # escape regex metachars if present
   $str =~ s/$find/$replace/g;
   print $str;

with Python:

   print("I have a dream".replace("have", "had"))


Marko