[ruby-talk:18441] Re: Ruby as opposed to Python?

hmmm. seems like every time there is a python/ruby thread here the
tone of the language turns so negative.  people who like ruby like
ruby.

the size of a lang's lib != the quality of the lang or even the
support.  hell, if that were the case shouldn't we be talking about
c/c++/java vs. ruby (and or python).  Old langauge's have bigger
libs... many folks are here touting python because it is older and has
more support, even though it has a less elegent OO
syntax/implementation.  Perl is older than Python and even better
supported, but with a less elegent OO syntax/implementation, etc, etc.

These discussions are useless.  If you are a python coder and you
don't get why people like ruby more, consider these two alternatives
to trolling the ruby group/slashdot/everywhere else and inserting
witty quips about how all these smart, busy and active ruby people are
really wrong wrong wrong and etc. etc.:

1.) read the pickaxe book -- if nothing else you will likely end up
understanding some really cool OO ideas that you might not have
before.  You can use these in python or perhaps you'll see some of
Ruby's mythic goodness.  You will at least be very well informed.  It
takes a long time to pick up the feel of a lang, no?

2.) recognize that ruby is not that interesting to you and go be an
active, positive python/perl/java/c coder.  the folks that I deal with
in the ruby community are very humble about our language of choice. 
there is a lot of talk about lisp and squeak and other langauges.  I
feel like this is the reason that ruby people get testy whenever
someone starts heavy-handedly doing this vs. that langauge
comparisons... a lot of us are thinking about the nature of other
langauges all the time.  Maybe python folks feel a little left out
that they are not one of the langauges that usually comes up in these
conversations.... but I've also never hear a ruby-fan bash on python
either... so there is that.

I think that it _is_ interesting to note the differences in
disposition between the python and ruby inventors, though.  Matz is
super-nice and available and, yes, really very funny.  I feel like his
attitude must come throughand infect the people who use the langauge
because this is such a great group of people.