[cumbria_lug] To Python, or not to Python?

[Trevor Pearson]

Dave Murphy wrote:
> On Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:34:38 +0100
> Trevor Pearson <trevor at haven.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>> Is there really a need for all these languages ?  could we just settle
>> for having a couple, you know, one for quick scripts, one for longer and
>> more complicated scripts and a heavy-duty compiled behemoth for the
>> 'big' jobs?
> 
> ...but learning one or two languages to the point of being able to be
> productive quickly and easily when required (i.e. when someone's paying
> you) is better that trying everything out for the sake of it. From that
> perspective Perl, Python and Ruby win out over Erlang, Lisp etc.
> (unless, of course, you're specialising in a field where those
> languages are prevalent - in web  work they're not)
> 

I'm not being too serious there, but since you mention it, there are
good reasons to at least be familiar with a variety of languages.  In my
case most of the work is on existing systems, some written in java
others in perl, some '.net' code and shell scripts.  True enough
specialisation is key to being productive, efficient and effective.

Computering isn't just something I do for money though, darn it, I enjoy
it too! Being involved with gnu/Linux just isn't the same as walking
into a shop and buying a shrink-wrapped product.  Every time I read or
hear about how Linux 'isn't ready' or how some proprietorial software is
better, I think shame they haven't grasped the difference is about more
than software development methodology, in fact that is probably the
least important thing, it's the ethical stance and the communities that
 free software has spawned that matter more.

Trevor.