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Q : What is Python and where can I find out more about it?

R :
See <http://www.python.org/>
Python is an object-oriented scripting language. If you know anything about Perl, Python can do roughly anything that Perl can do. Many people think that Python is easier to read than Perl, and therefore better suited for large programming projects.
- Aahz Maruch
R :
There are other arguments for Python's comparative superiority for large programming projects:
1. Python has a better OO model, and OO is a benefit in big work.
2. A slight variation on what you wrote: Perl's syntax is undeniably complex, and this adversely affects teamwork. It seems unavoidable that some of the Perl code in a large team project will be opaque to some of the team members. Python, in contrast, has a sufficiently coherent syntax that experienced coders can apprehend anything they run across, even if they didn't write it themselves.
3. Python's module system is allegedly cleaner.
4. Big projects inevitably pick up mixed-language objects. Only magicians interface Perl to foreign languages (like C). Python, in contrast, is easy to extend.
I summarize: Perl is a fine language for implementing many large-scale projects. Aahz correctly reported that Python is generally regarded as superior to Perl in this regard, and gave one example of its advantage. That's not Python's only advantage, though.
- Cameron Laird
And a lot of people say that we treat people nicer here compared to the perl newsgroups. ;)
- Grant Edwards

Sources of information

<http://python.faqts.com>

Code snippets

<http://members.tripod.com/~edcjones/pycode.html>
<http://www.faqts.com/knowledge-base/index.phtml/fid/199/>


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Version : 1.65 Mise à jour : 11/11/00