was Re: Type inference now simplicity

[Shae Erisson]

Neil Hodgson wrote:
>    I found this article quite depressing. One of the effects of .NET appears
> to be the homogenisation of programming languages. When the platform
> emphasises compilation, compiler helpful warts like variable declaration and
> "option fast" start appearing. There is a place for languages with optional
> typing but there is also a place for a language that tries to stay very
> simple.
> 
>    VB has been on a long journey of complexification which has been great
> for many but has left some people behind. One of my mates works as a
> manager/bureaucrat - programming isn't a significant part of his job but
> over the years he's been able to write bits of dBase, Excel macros and HTML
> with embedded JavaScript. Excel moved from a simple macro language to a
> simplified VB variant (OK, so far) to using full VB (getting worse) and then
> VB starts gaining C++ features (bad). So this bloke has stopped programming
> in Excel - just too hard now. Adding 'programming in the large' features
> appears good to help the more advanced users but it introduces unwanted
> complexity for others. JavaScript was the last refuge of simplicity but now
> Microsoft (and Netscape) are moving it into the same zone as Python, VB and
> C#. I expect a new simple language will appear, gain some users and then
> embark on the same journey to complexity.

I agree with this. With Python, I'm opposed to the idea of adding
autoincrement operators like += etc. I'm opposed to adding the extra for
loop stuff like "for [x,y,z] in [a,b,c]."
And I'm opposed to it because it seems like sugar to me. I've always
loved Python's simplicity, and I hope it stays that way.

Adding new operators and new syntax will make Python harder to read, and
harder to learn. I don't want that.

Simplicity always seems to improve things. Usually, I can improve by
removing rather than adding. Concepts like WikiWiki, Refactoring, etc.
appeal to me tremendously.
-- 
Shae Matijs Erisson - http://www.webwitches.com/~shae/
VirtualPairProgramming Wanted - Linux/Emacs/Python/Speak Freely
.fi: rakastan ohjelmointia - python kengittää aasia