Matlab vs Python (was RE: Discussion: Introducing new operators for matrix computation)

[Bjorn Pettersen]

Charles Boncelet wrote:
> 
> (Huaiyu Zhu wrote a proposal for adding special linear algebra
> operator to Python)
> 
> This proposal has been dismissed by many on this list (my
> paraphrasing)
> "because we don't want to pollute Python with new symbols/syntax
> for just one problem domain."  Some have dismissed linear algebra
> as a small domain at that.
> 
> Let's get some facts (yes, I know we are not supposed to let facts
> interfere with our arguments on usenet):

[severe case of non sequitur snipped]

Perl, C++, Visual Basic, Java, and probably also Tcl are all more
popular than Python. Are you suggesting we should add their special
syntaxes/quirks just because a lot of people know them?

hrmph!
-- bjorn