Re: [Python-ideas] Python-ideas Digest, Vol 63, Issue 23

On Thu, Feb 09, 2012 at 11:34:57AM -0800, Daniel Greenfeld wrote:

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? 1. Re: Python 3000 TIOBE -3% (Massimo Di Pierro) ? 2. Re: Python 3000 TIOBE -3% (Guido van Rossum) ? 3. Re: Python 3000 TIOBE -3% (Sturla Molden) ? 4. Re: Python 3000 TIOBE -3% (Guido van Rossum) Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 12:25:18 -0600 From: Massimo Di Pierro To: Steven D'Aprano Cc: python-ideas

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Massimo Di Pierro wrote:

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Here is another data point: http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2012/02/08/language-rankings-2-2012/ Unfortunately the TIOBE index does matter. I can speak for python in education and trends I seen. Python is and remains the easiest language to teach but it is no longer true that getting Python to run is easer than alternatives (not for the average undergrad student).

Is that a commentary on Python, or the average undergrad student?

I teach so the average student is my benchmark. Please do not misunderstand. While some may be lazy, but the average CS undergrad is not stupid but quite intelligent. They just do not like wasting time with setups and I sympathize with that. Batteries included is the Python motto.

I'm going to delurk from this list and really back up Massimo here. It's not precisely his issue, but it's close enough to count.

While we love our Linux and BSD variants, and OS X usage is growing, the truth of the matter is that the clear majority of people learning Python at the entry level do so on Windows. And I can assure you having attended many of the tutorials given by PyLadies and other groups, the part that took the most amount of time was ensuring a correct installation on Windows. It's not just a matter of getting the installation onto the machine, it's a matter of making sure the paths are set correctly so they can follow code examples trivially.

+inf. --titus