Comments on: Python First Impression http://www.alexloddengaard.com/2008/10/08/python-first-impression/ A blog by Alex Loddengaard Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:09:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Alex Loddengaard http://www.alexloddengaard.com/2008/10/08/python-first-impression/comment-page-1/#comment-1973 Alex Loddengaard Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:05:15 +0000 http://www.alexloddengaard.com/?p=730#comment-1973 I don't think a comparison between Ruby and Python, coming from me at least, would be that useful. I make this claim because I never really learned Ruby that well. The two languages are similar -- make things easy, good object-oriented support, scripting essence, etc -- but still different. Given my limited knowledge of Ruby, I like Python much more. I find it to be easier to program in and generally more intuitive. I don’t think a comparison between Ruby and Python, coming from me at least, would be that useful. I make this claim because I never really learned Ruby that well. The two languages are similar — make things easy, good object-oriented support, scripting essence, etc — but still different.

Given my limited knowledge of Ruby, I like Python much more. I find it to be easier to program in and generally more intuitive.

]]> By: Max Aller http://www.alexloddengaard.com/2008/10/08/python-first-impression/comment-page-1/#comment-1972 Max Aller Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:02:46 +0000 http://www.alexloddengaard.com/?p=730#comment-1972 How does it compare to Ruby? ;) How does it compare to Ruby? ;)

]]> By: Alex Loddengaard http://www.alexloddengaard.com/2008/10/08/python-first-impression/comment-page-1/#comment-1897 Alex Loddengaard Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:16:47 +0000 http://www.alexloddengaard.com/?p=730#comment-1897 Jordan, I would rather see the default parameter always used, not the default parameter used the first time, then all remaining times the first non-default used. This just does not seem intuitive. If I write code, "variable = 5," then I would expect variable to have a value of 5 immediately after this assignment. However, if this assignment is in the context of a default variable, then sometimes it won't be 5; sometimes it will be another value entirely. This is not intuitive. I've heard many people complain about this feature. They have said they spent hours debugging their software only to find that this is the out-of-the-box way Python works. I hope this clears things up! Jordan, I would rather see the default parameter always used, not the default parameter used the first time, then all remaining times the first non-default used. This just does not seem intuitive.

If I write code, “variable = 5,” then I would expect variable to have a value of 5 immediately after this assignment. However, if this assignment is in the context of a default variable, then sometimes it won’t be 5; sometimes it will be another value entirely. This is not intuitive.

I’ve heard many people complain about this feature. They have said they spent hours debugging their software only to find that this is the out-of-the-box way Python works.

I hope this clears things up!

]]> By: Jordan http://www.alexloddengaard.com/2008/10/08/python-first-impression/comment-page-1/#comment-1896 Jordan Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:10:58 +0000 http://www.alexloddengaard.com/?p=730#comment-1896 I don't understand your biggest complaint. Would you rather it evaluate it every time? The only time I can see it mattering is when your default expression mutates something. Is this what you want? I don’t understand your biggest complaint. Would you rather it evaluate it every time? The only time I can see it mattering is when your default expression mutates something. Is this what you want?

]]> By: Alex Loddengaard http://www.alexloddengaard.com/2008/10/08/python-first-impression/comment-page-1/#comment-1848 Alex Loddengaard Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:01:00 +0000 http://www.alexloddengaard.com/?p=730#comment-1848 If a file has a class, then that class needs to be invoked somehow. One way to do this would be to just put code outside of the class in the same file, but then that code would be invoked if that class is imported elsewhere. If a file has a class, then that class needs to be invoked somehow. One way to do this would be to just put code outside of the class in the same file, but then that code would be invoked if that class is imported elsewhere.

]]> By: jsalvati http://www.alexloddengaard.com/2008/10/08/python-first-impression/comment-page-1/#comment-1847 jsalvati Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:44:24 +0000 http://www.alexloddengaard.com/?p=730#comment-1847 Man, ditto. My complaint is that some string manipulating functions (like .extend()) change the original string instead of creating a new one. Also, do you actually need to do that? I thought that's only if you want to to double as a module. I never use that. Man, ditto. My complaint is that some string manipulating functions (like .extend()) change the original string instead of creating a new one.

Also, do you actually need to do that? I thought that’s only if you want to to double as a module. I never use that.

]]> By: Alex Loddengaard http://www.alexloddengaard.com/2008/10/08/python-first-impression/comment-page-1/#comment-1846 Alex Loddengaard Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:08:54 +0000 http://www.alexloddengaard.com/?p=730#comment-1846 Haha, I'll share later! Haha, I’ll share later!

]]> By: rob http://www.alexloddengaard.com/2008/10/08/python-first-impression/comment-page-1/#comment-1845 rob Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:06:30 +0000 http://www.alexloddengaard.com/?p=730#comment-1845 so where are you putting this python to work? details! so where are you putting this python to work? details!

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