[Omaha.pm] Perl, Python, Ruby or PHP ...

[Michael Kolakowski]

Hi,

I have learned both languages so perhaps I can add something useful to this discussion.  I first
learned Perl in Bob's class and I learned Python a couple years later for a job.  I'll try to be
objective, but we all know that's nearly impossible.

-First, saying that most big companies use perl might be a bit of a misnomer.  Both Google and
NASA use Python.  See here: http://www.python.org/about/success/

-Second, there is actually a lot of support for Python out there.  Mailing lists and even O'Reilly
books are available.

-Python has grown a lot over the past 10 years and there is, in fact, a lot you can do with it. 
There are many more packages, I think, than most people realize.

So, now for the opinion part.  I learned a heck of a lot in Bob's class.  It was one of my
favorite classes at UNO.  I'm also pleased to hear that there is now a Python class...I'm a bit
out of the loop.  My experience is that they are both cool languages, but a year later I can still
read my Python code, whereas I have to work at it quite a bit to figure out what I was doing in
Perl.  Perl just lends itself to being obfuscated (hence the contest).

Anyhow, I'm just trying to add some food for thought.  I'm not really advocating one over the
other...

Take care,
Michael Kolakowski





--- Jesse Andersen <gotosleep at gmail.com> wrote:

> I took your class in spring 2006 and shortly after that was hired on to my
> first programming job.  We do a ton of scripting where I work, and your
> class definitely gave me a huge advantage.  We do all our scripting in
> either korn shell, perl, or tcl, I of course chose perl whenever I can :)  I
> can honestly say that the perl I learned in your class was one of the most
> useful things I've ever learned at UNO.  I don't think Python would have
> been nearly as useful for me. From my limited experience, it seems like most
> of the big companies use perl for most of their scripting needs.  Perl is
> the most practical (and the best) choice, in my opinion.
> 
> On 2/24/07, Robert Fulkerson <robert.fulkerson at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Greetings All!
> >
> >      UNO would like to create a two-course sequence of web-related
> > programming.  We currently have my course, which is taught in Perl and
> > another course that covers similar content but doesn't require any previous
> > programming experience that is taught in Python.  Essentially, we're going
> > use the current Python course as the intro course and then my course as the
> > advanced course.  We're going to standardize on one language, however, and
> > Perl, Ruby and Python (and heck, even PHP) are all candidates.  The two
> > languages at the top of the heap are Perl and Python, since work has already
> > been done in both languages, thus reducing the amount of work to create the
> > two-course sequence.  I, of course, want the language to be Perl and have my
> > own set of reasons, but I thought I'd cast a wide net out to everyone for
> > ideas that I can bring to the table on Tuesday.
> >
> >      So, fire away.  Why should we continue to teach Perl instead of
> > Python at UNO?  Other than the fact that it's the coolest language ever?  :)
> >
> >      Thanks!
> >      -- b
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Omaha-pm mailing list
> > Omaha-pm at pm.org
> > http://mail.pm.org/mailman/listinfo/omaha-pm
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> Omaha-pm mailing list
> Omaha-pm at pm.org
> http://mail.pm.org/mailman/listinfo/omaha-pm



 
____________________________________________________________________________________
It's here! Your new message!  
Get new email alerts with the free Yahoo! Toolbar.
http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/