So which scripting language? Most popular, and the best?

[Hamster]

Python is great to use in situations where you need a cross-platform application with OS-level functions. It's also very easy to learn and easy to redistribute as you can essentially have a self-contained app that requires no system dependencies besides the user having Python install on their machine.

So in this case why would you use it instead of something like Go (or Rust/whatever). Go is cross platform, has no dependencies and can do everything Python can. This is why I'm saying Python has become irrelevant.

 

[rward]

Bah Humbug, you do those things in Perl

 

[gkm]

Python is great to use in situations where you need a cross-platform application with OS-level functions. It's also very easy to learn and easy to redistribute as you can essentially have a self-contained app that requires no system dependencies besides the user having Python install on their machine.

The same can be said for most of the mainstream VM languages like Java, Scala, Clojure, C#, even VB etc. And before you say these languages needs jars or DLL, one can say the same about having to use pip to install packages for Python.

Most of these languages are also a lot faster than Python. You can argue that does not matter, and I agree that sometimes it does not matter, but if you have to run for example 10 servers to support your Python application, instead of 1 or 2 for your compiled VM language application, costs can start adding up.

Also, I would argue that 90% of the cost of an average application lies in maintaining it. I feel that compiled languages have much lower maintenance costs, because IDE can do much more reliable usage checks, automated refactoring etc, so less chance of deploying a broken application a couple of years down the line, or having to do wall to wall testing for even the tiniest change, because impact of change is less clear, ballooning maintenance costs.

I am not saying Python is bad. It is a very good language. I just say, think twice before using it for a large long term project, where other factors become important.

 

[zippy]

The same can be said for most of the mainstream VM languages like Java, Scala, Clojure, C#, even VB etc. And before you say these languages needs jars or DLL, one can say the same about having to use pip to install packages for Python.

Most of these languages are also a lot faster than Python. You can argue that does not matter, and I agree that sometimes it does not matter, but if you have to run for example 10 servers to support your Python application, instead of 1 or 2 for your compiled VM language application, costs can start adding up.

Also, I would argue that 90% of the cost of an average application lies in maintaining it. I feel that compiled languages have much lower maintenance costs, because IDE can do much more reliable usage checks, automated refactoring etc, so less chance of deploying a broken application a couple of years down the line, or having to do wall to wall testing for even the tiniest change, because impact of change is less clear, ballooning maintenance costs.

I am not saying Python is bad. It is a very good language. I just say, think twice before using it for a large long term project, where other factors become important.

C# and VB are awful cross platform languages. Java, with all its faults, is way way better than these. Most people would be shocked that C# and VB are even concidered as viable cross platform languages.

Look at download pages for Java, Python, C# and VB and check the instructions for the various platforms and see how they compare

And how you get to the conclusion that you need 10 servers to support a python application ? I have never heard this before.

 

[Hamster]

Java, with all its faults, is way way better than these.

Man FSCK Java... so sick of people punting that archaic piece of doodoo

Not that you are punting it, I just get physically angry thinking about Java..

 

[zippy]

Man FSCK Java... so sick of people punting that archaic piece of doodoo

Not that you are punting it, I just get physically angry thinking about Java..

I dont like it either. Company is in the process of evaluating different platforms and have narrowed on either Java or C#. It seems that they are going to settle on Java EE.... Only consolation is that the process is going to take at least a year to get going.

 

[dadecoza]

I'm actually struggling to think of a use case where it is the best tool for the job. Using it as a training language is about all I can come up with. Suppose there are some security/"hacker" uses as well.

I use it very often for ETL and integration type jobs where I have to combine data from various data sources ie. ldap, sqlserver, oracle, mysql, webservices etc. and load it into another. I used to do the same stuff with Perl and sometimes miss the =~ but I guess it was time to change, I mean who still uses Perl?

 

[rorz0r]

I mean who still uses Perl?

$_ =~ s/who still/rorz0r/;

 

[Hamster]

I dont like it either. Company is in the process of evaluating different platforms and have narrowed on either Java or C#. It seems that they are going to settle on Java EE.... Only consolation is that the process is going to take at least a year to get going.

My condolences

 

[gkm]

And how you get to the conclusion that you need 10 servers to support a python application ? I have never heard this before.

Emm, tens of thousands of calls per minute. Need bunch of servers. Faster languages consume less CPU, so need fewer servers. Saves money and maintenance time.

I dont like it either. Company is in the process of evaluating different platforms and have narrowed on either Java or C#. It seems that they are going to settle on Java EE.... Only consolation is that the process is going to take at least a year to get going.

Maybe push for something like Scala.

 

[biometrics]

In polite company never talk about religion, politics, sex, money or programming languages.

 

[Hamster]

Emm, tens of thousands of calls per minute. Need bunch of servers. Faster languages consume less CPU, so need fewer servers. Saves money and maintenance time.



Maybe push for something like Scala.

Well to be fair, it depends on your server. SARS's whole backend is written in Python and runs on one (granted, very very expensive) server even during filing season.

Not a Windows box though