[Python-ideas] Python 3000 TIOBE -3%

[Guido van Rossum]

On Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 11:31 AM, Matt Joiner <anacrolix at gmail.com> wrote:

> > Isn't that more accurate for framework writers, rather than for
> > "average" users?  How often do average users have to address
> > encoding/decoding in Python 3?
>
> Constantly. As a Python noob I tried Python 3 it was the first wall I
> encountered. I had to learn Unicode right then and there. Fortunately,
> the Python docs HOWTO on Unicode is excellent.
>

The difference is that *if* you hit a Unicode error in 2.x, you're done
for. Even understanding Unicode doesn't help. In 3.x, you will hit Unicode
problems less frequently than in 2.x, and when you do, the problem can
actually be overcome, and then your code is better. In 2.x, the typical
solution, when there *is* a solution, involves making your code messier and
sending up frequent prayers to the gods of Unicode.

-- 
--Guido van Rossum (python.org/~guido)
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