Comments on: Alex Martelli on the differences between Python and Ruby http://jessenoller.com/2007/12/18/alex-martelli-on-the-differences-between-python-and-ruby/ python, programming and other things Mon, 02 Jan 2012 09:21:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Cliff Wells http://jessenoller.com/2007/12/18/alex-martelli-on-the-differences-between-python-and-ruby/comment-page-1/#comment-139358 Cliff Wells Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:22:17 +0000 http://jessenoller.com/2007/12/18/alex-martelli-on-the-differences-between-python-and-ruby/#comment-139358 I find it odd that people seem to ignore what I consider the most important distinction between Ruby and Python: Ruby is expression-based and Python is statement-based. This single distinction puts them as far apart as can be despite any other similarities they might have (think FORTRAN vs LISP).<br><br>Personally this is the only really appealing aspect of Ruby over Python. The other (mis)features are mere fluff by comparison.<br><br>Boo is a nice example of what Python would be like if it were expression-based. Frankly, if Boo weren't so .NET (and by extension, Windows) -centric, I'd have switched some time ago (Boo does work on Mono, but it seems most of the discussion and rather sparse documentation focus on Windows, so Linux/Mono users will feel a little out in the cold). I find it odd that people seem to ignore what I consider the most important distinction between Ruby and Python: Ruby is expression-based and Python is statement-based. This single distinction puts them as far apart as can be despite any other similarities they might have (think FORTRAN vs LISP).

Personally this is the only really appealing aspect of Ruby over Python. The other (mis)features are mere fluff by comparison.

Boo is a nice example of what Python would be like if it were expression-based. Frankly, if Boo weren’t so .NET (and by extension, Windows) –centric, I’d have switched some time ago (Boo does work on Mono, but it seems most of the discussion and rather sparse documentation focus on Windows, so Linux/Mono users will feel a little out in the cold).

]]> By: Cliff Wells http://jessenoller.com/2007/12/18/alex-martelli-on-the-differences-between-python-and-ruby/comment-page-1/#comment-62259 Cliff Wells Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:22:17 +0000 http://jessenoller.com/2007/12/18/alex-martelli-on-the-differences-between-python-and-ruby/#comment-62259 I find it odd that people seem to ignore what I consider the most important distinction between Ruby and Python: Ruby is expression-based and Python is statement-based. This single distinction puts them as far apart as can be despite any other similarities they might have (think FORTRAN vs LISP).<br><br>Personally this is the only really appealing aspect of Ruby over Python. The other (mis)features are mere fluff by comparison.<br><br>Boo is a nice example of what Python would be like if it were expression-based. Frankly, if Boo weren't so .NET (and by extension, Windows) -centric, I'd have switched some time ago (Boo does work on Mono, but it seems most of the discussion and rather sparse documentation focus on Windows, so Linux/Mono users will feel a little out in the cold). I find it odd that people seem to ignore what I consider the most important distinction between Ruby and Python: Ruby is expression-based and Python is statement-based. This single distinction puts them as far apart as can be despite any other similarities they might have (think FORTRAN vs LISP).

Personally this is the only really appealing aspect of Ruby over Python. The other (mis)features are mere fluff by comparison.

Boo is a nice example of what Python would be like if it were expression-based. Frankly, if Boo weren’t so .NET (and by extension, Windows) –centric, I’d have switched some time ago (Boo does work on Mono, but it seems most of the discussion and rather sparse documentation focus on Windows, so Linux/Mono users will feel a little out in the cold).

]]> By: Kumar McMillan http://jessenoller.com/2007/12/18/alex-martelli-on-the-differences-between-python-and-ruby/comment-page-1/#comment-62258 Kumar McMillan Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:45:37 +0000 http://jessenoller.com/2007/12/18/alex-martelli-on-the-differences-between-python-and-ruby/#comment-62258 I agree, Erlang is pretty ugly but I'd love to see some of the OTP (open telecom platform) goodness ported to Python. There are a few comparable packages already but nothing as rock solid as OTP. <br><br>And I agree about the perlness of Ruby. This may actually be the one thing holding me back from using the language. Oh what perl scars I've endured! :) Future versions of Ruby seem to be moving past deprecation of the perlness into flatout dropping it completely. I will be much more keen on using Ruby when that day comes.<br><br>Now that my memory is jogged ... beyond the perlness, it was the slowness of Ruby 1.8 that turned me off of it. This seems to be changing too:<br><a href="http://antoniocangiano.com/2007/11/28/holy-shmoly-ruby-19-smokes-python-away/" rel="nofollow">http://antoniocangiano.com/2007/11/28/holy-shmo...</a><br><br>...which also makes the future of Ruby appealing. I agree, Erlang is pretty ugly but I’d love to see some of the OTP (open telecom platform) goodness ported to Python. There are a few comparable packages already but nothing as rock solid as OTP.

And I agree about the perlness of Ruby. This may actually be the one thing holding me back from using the language. Oh what perl scars I’ve endured! :) Future versions of Ruby seem to be moving past deprecation of the perlness into flatout dropping it completely. I will be much more keen on using Ruby when that day comes.

Now that my memory is jogged … beyond the perlness, it was the slowness of Ruby 1.8 that turned me off of it. This seems to be changing too:
http://antoniocangiano.com/2007/11/28/holy-shmo…

…which also makes the future of Ruby appealing.

]]> By: jnoller http://jessenoller.com/2007/12/18/alex-martelli-on-the-differences-between-python-and-ruby/comment-page-1/#comment-62257 jnoller Tue, 18 Dec 2007 22:29:21 +0000 http://jessenoller.com/2007/12/18/alex-martelli-on-the-differences-between-python-and-ruby/#comment-62257 YES. They all seem to scream "this language is great... because you need a PHD to use it". YES. They all seem to scream “this language is great… because you need a PHD to use it”.

]]> By: Dave http://jessenoller.com/2007/12/18/alex-martelli-on-the-differences-between-python-and-ruby/comment-page-1/#comment-62256 Dave Tue, 18 Dec 2007 21:23:22 +0000 http://jessenoller.com/2007/12/18/alex-martelli-on-the-differences-between-python-and-ruby/#comment-62256 God, Erlang is like the ugliest language ever seen. I don't get why all of the concurrency focused languages have to be so ugly. God, Erlang is like the ugliest language ever seen. I don’t get why all of the concurrency focused languages have to be so ugly.

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