Trying to decide between PHP and Python

[Dan M]

On Tue, 04 Jan 2011 12:20:42 -0800, Google Poster wrote:

> About once a year, I have to learn yet another programming language.
> Given all the recommendations (an outstanding accolade from Bruce Eckel,
> author of "Thinking in Java") I have set my aim to Python. Sounds kinda
> cool.
> 
> The indentation-as-block is unique, but that is how I always indent,
> anyway.
> 
> Can any of you nice folks post a snippet of how to perform a listing of
> the current directory and save it in a string?
> 
> Something like this:
> 
> $ setenv FILES = `ls`
> 
> Bonus: Let's say that I want to convert the names of the files to
> lowercase? As 'tolower()'
> 
> TIA,
> 
> -Ramon

1)
import os
files = ' '.join(os.listdir('/home/dan'))

2)
import os
import string
files = string.lower(' '.join(os.listdir('/home/dan')))

As to choice between Python and PHP, I would say learn anything but PHP. 
Even Perl has fewer tentacles than PHP.