Why I Love Python

The language you speak affects what you can think
Python is what I use the most to solve my own problems (I think better)
Including CGI/e-commerce with MySQL
5-10 times productivity (really!)
I’ve been trying to figure out how to explain “why” to people
Top 10 reasons I’ve come up with
And a few other interesting topics

What I love most: Python is about ME
As if Guido said: “Bruce, what can we do to make your programming experience as easy as possible?”
No compromises: it’s all about making me more productive

My Language History
Age 13: BASIC on HP1000 (HOSRAC.BAS is invented)
Age 19: APL for physics. The concept of a "terse language".
Basic again, survey courses, Pascal et al.
Age 21: Computer engineering, Chips + assembly language
Age 22: I begin to understand the value of high-level languages
Age 24: Database programming AppleII Basic

Age 25: Graduate (finally) with MS, discover C, work in embedded programming (in assembly).
I am my own C compiler
Age 26: Basic (again) for data analysis and control of wind-tunnel experiments
Age 27: Embedded C development. Program 4-bit Harvard architecture machine in assembly.
Wrote Assembler in GNU-Lisp. Created (?) primitive C++ mode for Gnu-emacs
Start writing for Micro Cornucopia
Age 29: University of Washington School of Oceanography with Tom Keffer.
Chose C++ over Objective-C for openness.
Published “Computer Interfacing with Pascal & C”

Age 32: Publish “Using C++”
Join ANSI C++ Committee
Later: “C++ Inside & Out”, “Black-Belt C++” (edited), “Thinking in C++”
Java: “easy translation from C++”
Actually took two years
Thinking in Python
Research mode now, web page with notes at www.BruceEckel.com
The other books and languages wrapped around me like Jacob Marley’s chains…

A ‘Bout’ of Perl
After C++ and Java, seemed amazing
Python is executable pseudocode. Perl is executable line noise.
Perl is like vice grips. You can do anything with it, and it's the wrong tool for every job
Leaves teeth marks everywhere
Perl is worse than Python because people wanted it worse. Larry Wall, 14 Oct 1998
I would actively encourage my competition to use Perl. Sean True, 30 Mar 1999

Top 10 Reasons Why I Love Python

10. Reduced Clutter
Programs are read more than they are written
XP: Consistent formatting really is important
Readability and compactness
Part of “conservation of complexity”
Consistent use of programming idioms improves understandability
Rapid understanding
The opposite of “more than one way to do it”

9. It’s not backward-compatible in exchange for pain
C++: Backward compatible with C – its strength and its bane
Java: more or less with C++ syntax (not too bad, but a lot of typing)
Perl: compatible with every hacky syntax of every Unix tool ever invented
C# and .NET: backward compatible with previous Microsoft marketing campaigns
Javascript: not even compatible with itself

8. It doesn’t value performance over my productivity
C++: can’t let go of C performance
Better than C, sure, but still takes forever to get something working; memory leaks are almost impossible to design out
Java: Primitive types require awkward coding (primitives “necessary” for speed)
As opposed to Python: everything is an object; escape mechanism (extension) for speed

7. It doesn’t treat me like I’m stupid
“Operator overloading is bad because you can make ugly code with it”
“finalize( ) does something”
“We reviewed Java designs before putting them into the language”
“Java has an open development process”

6. I don’t wait forever for a full implementation of the language
Some features we invented in the C++ committee are still not implemented
Unused features don’t get tested; circular problem
Many C++ vendors say “it’s hard, and no one’s asking for it.”

5. It doesn’t make assumptions about how we discover errors
Is strong static type checking really the only way to be sure?
Lack of good static typing in pre-ANSI C was certainly heaps of trouble
Doesn’t mean it’s the best solution
(More about this later)
Errors discovered with real data seem to me to be the hardest to find

4. Marketing people are not involved
“Java is flawless”
Microsoft “Visual” “C++”
Microsoft happens
Of course, Python isn’t immune

3. I don’t have to type so much
… And I don’t have to wade through so much code when I’m reading
Conservation of complexity: simplicity really does make a difference
But the right typing
Not obscure like APL
Not endlessly inventive like Perl or FORTH

2. My guesses are usually right
I still have to look up how to open a file every time I do it in Java
In fact, most things in Java require me to look something up
I can remember many Python idioms because they’re simpler
One more reason I program faster

1. Python lets me focus on concepts
No stumbling through Java designs, fighting with C++ compilations or run-time bugs.

Python and “The Tipping Point”
Email: possible to carry on dozens of conversations by paper mail, but you don’t.
Automating Everything:
Possible to write programs to automate every task. But you don’t.
Python makes it easy enough
Great with Gnu make (my CD build system)

Weak typing
Only constraints on an object that is passed into a function are that the function can apply its operations to that object
def sum(arg1, arg2): return arg1 + arg2 print sum(42, 47) print sum('spam', 'eggs')
“ Weak” sounds bad

Weak Typing in C++: Templates
#include <string>
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
template<class A, class B, class R>
R sum(A a, B b) {
return a + b;
}
int main() {
string a("one"), b("two")
cout << sum<string, string, string>(a, b) << endl;
cout << sum<int, int, int>(1, 2) << endl;
}

Weak Typing in Java
Reflection, possibly with interfaces

interface addable { Object add(Object b);} class X implements addable { public Object add(Object b) { return new Object(); // Test } } class AddableNotFoundException extends Exception {} public class WeakTyping { public static Object sum(Object a, Object b) throws AddableNotFoundException { Class[] intfs = a.getClass().getInterfaces(); for(int i = 0; i < intfs.length; i++) if(intfs[i] == addable.class) return ((addable)a).add(b); throw new AddableNotFoundException(); } public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception { X a = new X(); X b = new X(); Object c = sum(a, b); } }

Why weak typing isn't weak
Upcasting becomes meaningless
You write what you want to do, let Python worry about how
Argument against weak typing: “errors won’t be found”
Like in pre-ANSI C (had no rules)
As long as rules are enforced sometime , you’ll find the errors
Heresy: run-time is better than compile time

Performance issues
Machine performance vs. Programmer Performance
Most of the time, which is really more important?
C++ is naturally faster -- or is it?
with IOStreams, not always

Future Impact
Programmer productivity is the most important thing
Python excels at rapid creation of maintainable code
To increase performance, throw hardware at the problem
Multiprocessor machines & stackless
Seems like an important direction, even to the point of justifying core language changes

Other Languages
C# bores me. Removes the interesting/useful features of both Java & C++. I’d use one of those languages first.
Ruby. I’ll wait and see, but my impression is that it doesn’t do more for me than Python (or not more enough).

NerdsOnBicycles.com
On the New Zealand bike trip, Bill Venners & I decided it would be a good idea to host technically-themed bike tours
Run by a professional company with all the amenities, the “sag wagon” etc.
We thought a Python-themed trip might be an interesting beginning
Grand Tetons? Send email if interested

Life is Short (You Need Python) OR: No Warrantee Not Fit for Any Particular Purpose (You Need Python)

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Why I Love Python

by didip on Jun 30, 2008

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Why I Love Python — Presentation Transcript