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Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2015 03:43:07 +0100
From: Mario Figueiredo <marfig@gmx.com>
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To: python-list@python.org
Subject: Re: Python handles globals badly.
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On 09-09-2015 02:26, Ben Finney wrote:
> Mario Figueiredo <marfig@gmx.com> writes:
>
>> Note:
>> You know, it is a pointless exercise to try and downplay programming
>> languages (any programming language) that has proven its worth by
>> being generally adopted by the programming community. Adoption is the
>> sign of a respected and well designed language.
>
> I can think of numerous widely-adpoted languages that disprove that
> assertion, by nevertheless being poorly-designed languages that are
> loathed by the vast majority of programmers who use them.
>
> On the other hand, I think there is merit in an argument that runs the
> other way: the quality of languages that a community adopts are
> predictive of the quality of programs that community will produce.
>

I'll have to agree to an extent. And you did remind me of PHP. So 
there's that.

But in a way PHP served an important purpose in its time. Despite its 
flaws, it was once an important language that helped solve programming 
problems. And for that it served the purpose. Many of us went through it 
for the lack of a better fast-and-dirty alternative to server-side 
scripting. I remember others, like Cold Fusion or ASP. (Can't recall 
exactly why Cold Fusion didn't experience a wider support. But, truth be 
told I barely touched it).

In any case, it stands that, unless a programming language is so ruined 
by bad design choices it is unusable, there is some kind of merit to its 
ability to solve computational problems. And Lua, Java, Python, C++, C, 
let me stop naming some popular or mildly popular languages, aren't 
nowhere close to being in that game. They are superior choices, despite 
our personal dislikes.

I can't stand Java. I just don't think calling it a mistake. It's worth 
has been proven by its level of adoption and by the usable software that 
has been made with it. Javascript/ECMAScript is criticized by so many 
and yet there's no denying of its importance. Even today we struggle to 
find a better alternative to client-side scripting. Python is criticized 
by so many. And yet I don't think calling on Python developers as an 
inferior breed of programmers.