Wood, metal and plastic [was: Re: Why do we call python scripting?]

[Kris J. Zaragoza]

On 28 Aug 1999 01:01:00 GMT, Paul Jackson <pj at sgi.com> wrote:
>
>    Python is plastic.
>

Great line. Just be careful this doesn't get quoted out of
context. ;-)

>
>(Actually, the way I've heard some of the Lisp crowd speak of
>their various dialects and common usage patterns, that sounds
>pretty plastic to me.  Python differs in having a syntax
>more like the main stream languages, and in not presuming an
>elaborate support environment, both of which make Python much
>more accessible to a main stream programmer, for main stream
>systems, like myself and the systems to which I program.)

It's interesting that you mention Lisp.  I had a conversation recently 
with a friend whom I had introduced to Python.  He had finally taken a 
look and found it quite impressive (particularly JPython).  He did
make one comment which opened my eyes, though: "Now I know why you
like Python so much.  It's Lisp without the parentheses!"

In yet another instance, a friend at work solicited opinions about
Python on a mailing list frequented by ex-Symbolics hackers.  He has
since forwarded me some of the threads that the question touched off.
Many of the comments were positive.  There was, of course, the
required complaint about the use of whitespace as a block delimiter,
but that was to be expected.  My favorite comment was one stating how
absolutely wonderful Python was to embed in other applications.  This
is something that most, if not all Common Lisp systems have lacked.

The more I look at Python, the more I realize how similar it is to
Lisp, if not in syntax, in spirit.  This applies to the whole family
of Lisp languages, not just Common Lisp.  Both Python and Lisp provide
you with a dynamic, interactive environment that doesn't impose on you
any particular programming paradigm.  They strive to provide good
mechanisms for building abstractions to solve tough problems, then
give you maximum flexibility in using and RE-using those abstractions.

Thank you, Guido, for giving us such a great tool to get work done.

-- 
Kris J. Zaragoza           | "Unfortunately, most people can't out-think a
kzaragoza at mediaone.net     | grapefruit."  --Jon Bodner