Is Python a Zen language?

[Steven D'Aprano]

On Sat, 25 Feb 2006 06:09:16 -0800, John Coleman wrote:

> Greetings,
>    I have a rough classification of languages into 2 classes: Zen
> languages and tool languages. A tool language is a language that is,
> well, a *tool* for programming a computer. C is the prototypical tool
> language. Most languages in the Algol family are tool languages. Visual
> Basic and Java are also tool languages. On the other hand, a Zen
> language is a language which is purported to transform your way of
> thinking about programming. Lisp, Scheme, Forth, Smalltalk and (maybe)
> C++ are Zen languages. Disciples acknowledge that it is difficult to
> pick up these languages but claim that, if you persevere, you sooner or
> later reach a state of computational satori in which it all makes
> sense. Interestingly enough, these languages often have books which
> approach scriptural status  e.g. SICP for Scheme.
> 
> So (assuming my classification makes sense)  which is Python?

Why can't it be both? Why do you think "Zen" and "tool" are two different
*kinds* of language, rather than just two extremes of a single continuum?

There are two kinds of people: those who divide the world into false
dichotomies, and those who don't. *wink*


> This is probably because I am not a programmer (I'm a mathematician who
> likes to program as a hobby and for numerical simulations) and so don't
> have the time to invest in picking up a Zen language. Hard-core hackers
> might presumably lean towards the Zen languages.

Regardless of whether Python is a Zen or tool language, or both, or
something else, it is incredibly easy to pick up. Just remember, and this
goes for *any* new language you are trying to learn, Python is not
C/Java/VB/Fortran/Lisp/Ada/whatever language you already know.



-- 
Steven.