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Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2013 12:33:30 -0800
Subject: Re: New user's initial thoughts / criticisms of Python
From: Mark Janssen <dreamingforward@gmail.com>
To: John von Horn <j.h69@btinternet.com>
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Xref: csiph.com comp.lang.python:58964

A little late, but a couple of cents worth more data:

> I've just got a few thoughts I'd like to share and ask about:
>
> * Why not allow floater=float(int1/int2) - rather than floater=float
> (int1)/float(int2)?

This has to do with evaluation order, the stuff inside the parens gets
evaluated first, resulting in an integer for versions of python less
than v3.

> Give me a float (or an error message) from evaluating everything in the
> brackets. Don't make me explicitly convert everything myself (unless I
> want to)

You only have to give one float value:  int1/float(int2).  The
environment converts it to a floating point operation when either of
the two is a float value.  (try:  1/2.0, for example)

> * No sign of a select .. case statement
>
> Another useful tool in the programmer's toolbox

I agree on this one, though I prefer C's syntax of switch/case.  The
if/then/elif "ladder" of python is a bit cumbersome, but was chosen to
reduce language size -- a value with mixed reviews.

> * Call me pedantic by why do we need a trailing comma for a list of one
> item? Keep it intuitive and allow lstShopping=[] or ["Bread"] or
> ["Bread", "Milk","Hot Chocolate"] I don't like ["Bread",]. It bugs me.

This one got answered, it has to do with the parser when dealing with parens.

> Is everyone happy with the way things are?

No, but Python is still the best language.

> Could anyone recommend a good,
> high level language for CGI work? Not sure if I'm going to be happy with
> Perl (ahhh, get him, he's mentioned Perl and is a heretic!) or Python.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend Python for web scripts.  But I'm
biased and am speaking from where I see the field of computer
languages heading.

MarkJ
Tacoma, Washington