From: "Schneider, Michael" <michael.l.schneider@...>
Date: 2003-08-27T01:25:21+09:00
Subject: Re: Why did you switch from Python to Ruby?

I programmed in perl Until 93, when I switched to python.  Perl, as a language, was
expensive to maintain.  I switched to python, and it was a pleasure to use.

I did not/do not have a problem with python style:
	- space blocks (no problem since that matched my coding style)
	- underscores for system routines (no problem, since in previous life in compilers
        used underscores for system functions).
    
I tried to go to ruby several times, but returned to python. 
	- My python library of routines built over time
	- Zope for application server development
	- wxpython

I went to a java conference last month, and was a pub with
Chad Fowler, Dave Thomas, and Jim Weirich.  They all made very
good points.

The next day, I went to Dave's presentation on Ruby.  When I saw
WebRick, I was converted.  I read "The Ruby Way"'s network section,
and drb pulled me the rest of the way in (Thanks Hal and Chad).

Ruby Winners:
	- WEBRick
	- drb
	- rinda
	- language syntax
	- block functionality
	- iterator model

Ruby Issues:
	- Threading Model (we have many multi-cpu machines)
	- GUI model (looks like wxruby is on the way)
	- named parameters (is this in 1.8?), these are really handy for GUI objects
	  with many valid options that are partially set by the user.


I read block section again in the pickaxe book (Thanks Dave and Andy).

I am pragmatic about language use.  I bounce back between Ruby and Python.


I do enjoy the cleaner syntax of Ruby.  

Thanks Matz!!
Mike




-----Original Message-----
From: sabbyxtabby@yahoo.com [mailto:sabbyxtabby@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2003 10:48 AM
To: ruby-talk@ruby-lang.org
Subject: Re: Why did you switch from Python to Ruby?


Michael Campbell <michael_s_campbell@yahoo.com> wrote:

> > > Trsr:
> > >
> > >   #!perl -p0777
> > >   $_="@{[y/
> > >   //,0+split,y///c]}
> > >   "
> > 
> > This illustrates pretty well why I switched from Perl to Ruby. =)
> 
> 
> I know there's a smiley there, but let's be fair; people don't
> generally say they switched from C because of the entries in the
> OCCC, and that is clearly an overt example of TRYING to be
> obfuscated.

No effort was made to obfuscate.  Every effort was made to abbreviate.
The above is an example of *terse* code.  Perl golf anyone? :)