How explain why Python is easier/nicer than Lisp which has a simpler grammar/syntax?

[Terry Reedy]

On 8/6/2020 11:13 AM, Christian Seberino wrote:
> Python is my favorite language and the easiest to use in my opinion.
> 
> Lisp has a far simpler grammar and syntax.   A beginner I think could
> learn Lisp much faster than Python.
> 
> Therefore, it seems like Lisp *should* be easier to work with and more readable.  I don't feel like it is easier to use but I can't see *why* that is.
> 
> My best guess.....
> 
>        Lisp pros: simpler syntax
>        Lisp cons: prefix notation, lots more parentheses
> 
>        My hypothesis is that the cons slightly outweigh the pros of Lisp
>             which is why Python is easier to work with and is more readable in the end?

Here is why *I* prefer Python.

1. Python mostly separates computation of values (expressions) from flow 
control and name binding (statements).  When the latter are mixed with 
the former, most people restrict the mixing to a line or two.

2. Lisp code is one dimensional (though I presume there are now 
formatting conventions).  Python makes direct use of two dimensional 
structuring.

3. Forcing everything into linked lists is 'cute', but it introduces 
irrelevant asymmetries, differential nesting, and boilerplate that 
obscures the problem relevant structure.

A list of equal status items:
   (1,2,3) versus (1 (2 (3 NIL)))

A complete binary tree of depth 2:
   ((LL, LR), (RL, RR))
Left and right branches have same form.
versus
   # ((LL, (LR, NIL)), ((RL, (RR, NIL)), NIL))
   ((LL (LR NIL)) ((RL (RR NIL)) NIL))
Left and right branches have different forms.
I think I got the Lisp version right, but I had to initially include 
commas to do so.  Anyway, the Python version was much easier to write 
and is much easier to read.




-- 
Terry Jan Reedy