From: Kevin Smith <kevinbsmith@...>
Date: 2001-10-27T10:26:07+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:23581] Re: Ruby and Python: a fuzzy question

--- Dave Thomas <Dave@PragmaticProgrammer.com> wrote:
> Is it some kind of personality clash between the
> language and the programmer? Is it liking what 
> you're used to? Is it liking or disliking the 
> philosophies of the languages' designers? Or is it
> something else?

Yes.

For me, Python had a couple "features" that just irritated
the heck out of me. So much that I just didn't want to use
it. (And, in case you're curious, the indentation issue was
merely a minor annoyance for me, and not a showstopper).

Ruby, on the other hand, fit like a glove when I first saw
it. Perhaps it's because it's similar to C++, which was the
language I've used the most. But I don't think so.

There are certainly things about Ruby that I don't like, or
wish were different. But it doesn't have anything that just
drives me insane. C++ was the same way--imperfect but
usable. "Good enough", perhaps. Java, on the other hand, is
really getting on my nerves these days, and I wish I didn't
have to use it so much.

Why do I like Lua, but dislike Prolog? Why do I like C++
but dislike Java? Why do I like assembly language better
than Forth? I don't know.

I don't think language choice (within a related group of
languages, anyway) tends to be a rational decision. It's
emotional. It's based on gut and intuition, and comfort,
and aesthetics.

Ok, Dave. Enough other people have shared. What are your
thoughts?

Kevin


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