Python is a dynamic, high-level language. Its design focuses on clear syntax, an intuitive approach to object-oriented programming, and making the right way to do things obvious. Python supports modules, exceptions, had an extensive standard module library. Python can also be embedded in other ...
133
votes
24answers
43k views
What are the drawbacks of Python? [closed]
Python seems all the rage these days, and not undeservingly - for it is truly a language with which one almost enjoys being given a new problem to solve. But, as a wise man once said (calling him a ...
64
votes
6answers
6k views
Why was Python's popularity so sudden? [closed]
Python first appeared in 1991, but it was somewhat unknown until 2004, if the TIOBE rankings quantify anything meaningful.
What happened? What caused the interest in this 13 year old language to go ...
52
votes
10answers
8k views
Why do people hesitate using Python 3?
Python 3 has been released in December 2008. A lot of time has passed since then but still today many developers hesitate using Python 3. Even popular frameworks like Django are not compatible with ...
49
votes
8answers
8k views
Are there any design patterns that are unnecessary in dynamic languages like Python?
I've started reading the design pattern book by the GoF. Some patterns seem very similar with only minor conceptual differences.
Do you think out of the many patterns some are unnecessary in a ...
38
votes
7answers
8k views
Why is Python used for high-performance/scientific computing (but Ruby isn't)?
There's a quote from a PyCon 2011 talk that goes:
At least in our shop (Argonne National Laboratory) we have three
accepted languages for scientific computing. In this order they are
C/C++, ...
37
votes
14answers
18k views
How is Python used in the real world? [closed]
I'm looking to get a job as a Python programmer. I know the basics of the language and have created a few games with it using pygame. I've also started to experiment with Django.
However, looking at ...
37
votes
4answers
4k views
Experience of Python's “PEP-302 New Import Hooks”
I'm one of the developers of Ruby (CRuby). We are working on Ruby 2.0 release (planned to release 2012/Feb).
Python has "PEP302: New Import Hooks" (2003):
This PEP proposes to add a new set of ...
36
votes
13answers
9k views
How does Python's handling of line-breaks differ from JavaScript's automatic semicolons?
Javascript has a feature called Automatic Semicolon Insertion where basically if the parser encounters an invalid token, and the last token before that was a line break, then the parser will insert a ...
35
votes
16answers
14k views
What can I do with programming?
I'm a student studying biochemistry, and I've been learning some programming because I like it and it seems like the more one knows about computers the better. I've learned a good deal of python and ...
32
votes
11answers
3k views
Is C# development effectively inseparable from the IDE you use?
I'm a Python programmer learning C# who is trying to stop worrying and just love C# for what it is, rather than constantly comparing it back to Python.
I'm caught up on one point: the lack of ...
31
votes
8answers
4k views
Defensive Programming vs Exception Handling?
I'm working through the book "Head First Python" (it's my language to learn this year) and I got to a section where they argue about two code techniques: Defensive coding vs Exception handling. Here ...
29
votes
16answers
6k views
Why such popularity with Python? [closed]
Other than being annoyed at whitespace as syntax, I'm not a hater, I just don't get the fascination with Python.
I appreciate the poetry of Perl, and have programmed beautiful web services in bash ...
28
votes
8answers
3k views
How can I learn to effectively write Pythonic code?
Doing a google search for "pythonic" reveals a wide range of interpretations. The wikipedia page says:
A common neologism in the Python community is pythonic, which can have a wide range of ...
27
votes
5answers
2k views
Java dev learning Python: what concepts do I need to wrap my head around?
I've run through a few tutorials and written some small projects. I'm right in the middle of a small project now infact. All is going well enough thanks in no small part to Uncle Google (who usually ...
26
votes
7answers
17k views
How do I learn Python from zero to web development? [closed]
I am looking into learning Python for web development.
Assuming I already have some basic web development experience with Java (JSP/Servlets), I'm already familiar with web design (HTML, CSS, JS), ...
