(slightly OT): Python and linux - very cool

[TuxTrax]

On Thu, 08 Aug 2002 04:14:36 GMT, Mart van de Wege Wrote in
Steve Ballmers hair grease:

> On Thu, 08 Aug 2002 01:45:11 +0200, Peter Hansen wrote:

<snip>

>>> There are however plans to port Python to the Parrot VM, so that it
>>> will share a common VM with Perl. I am watching with interest, as I
>>> really like the combination of Perl for the heavy lifting on the back
>>> end, and Python for creating maintainable front-ends (Python *really*
>>> shines in writing GUI code).
>> 
>> Sounds like a strange combination, unless you've really got a thing for
>> Perl.  What "heavy lifting" can it do that Python can't do at least
>> roughly as well?  (But no language war intended.  I just don't
>> understand why somebody would want to mix the two, unless his dislike of
>> each was about equal.  I thought both were roughly on par in general
>> capability. :)
> 
> Actually, strange as it may sound, I like both Perl and Python. But Perl
> really shines in text processing. Just running through a file and
> extracting the bits you need with regular expressions is so easily done.
> 
> Constructs like the 'while (<FILEHANDLE>)' loop, which takes a  line from a
> file  until EOF (meanwhile assigning it to the default variable) make it
> really easy to toss of simple filter scripts.
> 
> For sure Python can do that too, but it takes a little more setup work,
> and the clean (more or less <grin>) integration of regexps in looping
> constructs such as above, makes me prefer Perl to do data extraction.
> 
> Mart
> 

Hi Mart

having just taken a look in my python book at the section (albeit
briefly) on the regular expression module (import re), this was of
interest to me. My book says it's a relatively recent module, designed
to address some shortcomings in pythons handling of regular
expressions.

Does this module make the shortcomings you are discussing a non-issue,
or do you feel there is more to be done to bring python up to the
regex handling capabilities of perl?

Cheers,

Mathew

-- 
TuxTrax   (n.) An invincible, all terrain, Linux driven armored assault
vehicle that can take as much fire as it gives ;-)

Yes, I am a Penguin cult high priest. Flipper readings upon request.

ROT13 this email address to mail me: uvtuqrfregzna at lnubb.pbz