does anybody earn a living programming in python?

[Mike C. Fletcher]

walterbyrd wrote:
> If so, I doubt there are many. 
>
> I wonder why that is?
>   
I've now used Python in every job I've had for the last 10 years.  
Started off with web-sites for a few months, then writing 
VRML-processing libraries to piece together and massage virtual worlds 
(not a *lot* of jobs there).  After that worked on a piece of 
Cable-system SNMP monitoring software (again, not a *lot* of jobs in 
that).  After that billing/provisioning systems for VoIP (you really 
only need one).  The last two companies (one of which I own, one in 
which I was a partner) were python-only shops.

PyGTA (Toronto Python User's Group), which is a fairly large user-group, 
seems to be about 60% (off-the-cuff estimate) paid Pythonistas, with 
some people picking it up for filling in corners and others spending all 
day working on it.  The paid positions tend (like most programming 
positions in less-well-known general-purpose languages) to be 
programming + X for values of X which are a problem domain having an 
obscure nature.  That is, boutique/bespoke development that requires 
some specialisation such that the customer is willing to go for whatever 
language is suitable and gets the job done.

Regarding Java from one of the previous comments (and this is a cynical 
moment here, I'm really a far more positive person, just ignore this):

    There are still lots of jobs in Java, just as there are still lots
    of jobs in COBOL.  Kids in the know (i.e. who *love* programming,
    rather than just wanting a job) going into university are minimising
    their Java exposure so that they don't box themselves into the
    big-old-company environments that have locked themselves into Java
    while everyone else moves onto the more dynamic languages/platforms.

    Job security and easy availability is not the be-all and end-all of
    happiness in life.  That said, if you know anyone who "just wants a
    job", please, push them at Java, someone has to spend the next 30
    years maintaining the Struts and J*EE sites people are putting
    together today in all those big institutions.

Have fun,
Mike

________________________________________________
  Mike C. Fletcher
  Designer, VR Plumber, Coder
  http://www.vrplumber.com
  http://blog.vrplumber.com