python vs java & eclipse

[Simon Brunning]

On 1 Dec 2006 01:24:47 -0800, Amir  Michail <amichail at gmail.com> wrote:
> Eclipse for example provides such an amazing IDE for java that it is no
> longer obvious to me that one would be much more productive in python
> for medium sized projects.

Eclipse can generate a lot of the Java boilerplate code, it's true,
saving you a lot of typing up front. But it can't maintain all those
reams of pointless code for you, and perhaps more importantly, it
can't read it for you. All the useless code that Java requires still
has a large price, even if you don't need to type it yourself.

> Sure, all that Java static typing can be painful, but Eclipse takes
> some of that pain away. Moreover, static typing can result in better
> on-the-fly error detection and refactoring support.

I do sometimes spend some time finding and fixing bugs of the "I
though I had a Spam instance, but it turns out to be a Eggs instance"
issues when coding in Python, but then I spend some time sorting out
"I know you've got a fry() method in there somewhere - just let me
call it!" issues in Java, so it balances out. And the latter problems
are more annoying, 'cos I feel the compiler isn't trusting me. Python
usually trusts me, even if I don't always deserve it. ;-)

FWIW, I spend perhaps 80% of my coding time with Java (and Eclipse),
and 20% with Python.

-- 
Cheers,
Simon B
simon at brunningonline.net
http://www.brunningonline.net/simon/blog/