From: gtewalt@... (gt) Date: 2003-08-19T23:03:54+09:00 Subject: Re: Why did you switch from Python to Ruby? "Brandon J. Van Every" wrote in message news:... > This question is only meant to apply to people who used to use Python, but > switched to Ruby. Why did you do so? > > Motive for my question: I am language / platform shopping and comparing the > pros and cons of Python, C#, and anything that comes up on the radar in the > course of it. A lot of people who know about Python seem to know about > Ruby. Someone in comp.lang.python suggested that I should ask this > particular question here to get more complete opinions. The c.l.p people > are mostly happy with Python and see few if any advantages to Ruby, although > there is some discussion and dissention. Im far from an expert at either language; in fact, Im still learning them side-by-side, however... When ever I'm tinkering with a new problem, I almost always end up using Ruby. From a practical mindset, Python wins. Its a much better 'environment' to tackle programming problems with. By that I mean that it has much more available as far as modules, extensions, and the like. 'twisted', and 'Pygame', and 'Zope' come to mind. Its very scalable due to the fact that a coding style was built into the language. Lots of people have problems with the forced indentation but its there for a reason, and you get used to it. It makes code very easy to read months down the line, and it doesnt really matter who the past coders were, because everyone is forced into a particular style. Also, Python seems to be very straight-laced as far as syntax goes. From my limited dealings with the Python community, they seem to recoil entirely from the thought of any sort of code obfuscation. There is no Python 'golf' it seems. Having said all that it sounds like I'm an advocate for Python. But... I seem to smile alot more when using Ruby. I can do things with less code most times, with less of a fight. By that I mean, I can implement one of my hair-brained schemes with a little tinkering that most times Python will simply balk at. Like Perl there is 'more than one way to do it'. Unlike Perl, theres no pain in doing so, and you can actually understand your own code a couple of weeks down the line. Iterators, blocks, procs, and closures are a plus too. Some of you might say its because I'm more proficient at using Ruby than Python, but that simply not the case. I set out to learn them in paralel, so the proficiency/knowledge level is about the same. I suggest that you try the same approach. Learn both at the same time, and see what is better for you. This is just what my experience has been. I know its not choke full of technical reasons why you should choose one over the other. On the surface it seems as if Ruby doesnt offer anything extraordinary enough to warrant a switch from Python for most users. Its one of those things that you have to experience I think, for it to hit you. I would urge you to give it a whirl. Sometimes it comes down to the intangibles in life.