Business issues regarding adapting Python

[Jean-Michel Pichavant]

Nash wrote:
> Hello everyone,
>
> I'm a big time python fan and it has helped me write code fast and
> push it out quickly. We have a medium sized telecom product written
> 90% in Python and 10% in Java. The problem is, in the place where we
> work (Pakistan), we can't find Python developers. I asked HR to send
> me figures on how many people do we have available who have worked
> with C++, Java, PHP and Python with 2-3 years of experience. They did
> a search on available candidates on Pakistan's biggest jobsite and
> this is what they sent:
>
> Language: Available Candidates in Pakistan (Available Candidates in
> our city)
> Java: 2020 (750)
> C++: 1540 (650)
> PHP: 630 (310)
> Python: 25 (4)
>
> Almost no-one shows up with Python experience when we put out a job
> opening and now it is becoming a real hurdle. Despite our liking and
> cost savings with the language, we are thinking about shifting to
> Java.
>
> 1. Have any of you faced a similar issue? How did you resolve it?
> 2. Do you think it makes sense to hire good programmers and train them
> on Python?
> 3. If we do train people in Python for say a month; are we just
> creating a team of mediocre programmers? Someone who has worked with
> Python for over an year is much different than someone who has worked
> with Python for only a month.
> 4. Any suggestions or idea? Related posts, articles etc would
> certainly help!
>
> I know that going Java will probably mean a 3x increase in the number
> of people that we have and require time for Python component
> replacement with Java ones. But for Business Continuity sake,
> management doesn't mind.
>
>
> Thanks a lot everyone!
>   
My 2 cents:
We're about 5 people working with python on a quite complex application. 
No one of us had ever heard about python before starting on this 
project. And now, I'm so grateful to the guy who decided to use python, 
because everything is working perfectly well. Python is just an amazing 
easy-to-learn yet powerful language.
I now use it whenever I can.

JM