I recently switched from perl to python and Im loving it. SO far the reasons i like it are:

1. Simple to use...you can learn it in a day...perfect for RAD
2. I lke how python forces you to write properly Indented code..So its easy to read.
3. Consistent with thier syntax
4. No wierd syntax like @var $var $#var @#var %var found in perl
5. Everything is an Object, whether you want it to be or not.(Just about)


If anyone gets pissed of at perl and the crappy syntax it has...you should really try out python....

Python's so called 'elegant' syntax is horrible. The tutorials I've looked at and the docs I've read all promote lousey coding habits by giving samples with poor variable names and function definitions.

I much prefer PHP5.

Mmm, my opinion, Nothing can replace perl. BUT Python is a Very cultivated programming language.

The properly indented code bit makes whitespace important, which I find annoying (since I'm so used to "free form" languages such as C++).

However, I can't say that I don't like Python. Its great if you want to learn OOP concepts quickly (like you mention, almost everything is an object -- much like Java). Its also really coming into its own in the business world as people find that its great for prototyping.

i think most people would agree that perl feel like its been patched together...i think perl's greatest asset is cpan and the ability to write one liners...
I didnt like the fact that white space is important at first..but im really starting to prefer it over the curly braces...only because its much easier to read other people's(and sometimes your own) code when its properly idented...

Originally posted by THEMike
Python's so called 'elegant' syntax is horrible. The tutorials I've looked at and the docs I've read all promote lousey coding habits by giving samples with poor variable names and function definitions.

I much prefer PHP5.
how is it "horrible"??
So your basing a language's value based on some tutorial you read. Most tutorials will have "poor" variable names such as a, b, c. Simply because its trying to show an example or help explain a concept. I dont even know what you would mean by "poor" function definitions..... Maybe you should try to use it instead of just looking at tutorials and docs to judge a language..

Just started using python recently for small project and so far I dislike it a lot. I want to separate my code with ; and {} , I really do not like all white space thing. Oh and it has no switch statement builtin.