Why is python not written in C++ ?

[Roy Smith]

In article <i3cqia$82r$2 at lust.ihug.co.nz>,
 Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo at geek-central.gen.new_zealand> wrote:

> In message <i3bseh$kfm$1 at reader1.panix.com>, Grant Edwards wrote:
> 
> > The problem has nothing to do with the relative merits of the
> > languages.  The problem is inertia.
> 
> So how was C++ able to get popular in the first place? And how was Java able 
> to grab some share from it?

C++, for all its flaws, had one powerful feature which made it very 
popular.  It is a superset of C.  Whatever that may mean from a 
technical standpoint, it made the language feel safe and comfortable and 
low-risk to managers.  From a more technical standpoint, it had the very 
real advantage of being able to include all the C system headers and 
link against C system libraries.

As for Java, that's easy.  You could launch Java applets from inside a 
web browser.  In those days, anything related to the web was a one-way 
express ticket to fame and fortune.