Path: csiph.com!fu-berlin.de!uni-berlin.de!not-for-mail From: Chris Angelico Newsgroups: comp.lang.python Subject: Re: Why do you use python? Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 16:09:14 +1100 Lines: 31 Message-ID: References: <2a7e7d01-a0f2-472d-b340-2592e4eddbc4@y10g2000prg.googlegroups.com> <6b563dba-3a7c-4d1b-b8ed-54d2337049ca@googlegroups.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 X-Trace: news.uni-berlin.de jQaJ5dIMn164phYesJrT1wjUAd8F63XSPDAjK41E5jrA== Return-Path: X-Original-To: python-list@python.org Delivered-To: python-list@mail.python.org X-Spam-Status: OK 0.000 X-Spam-Evidence: '*H*': 1.00; '*S*': 0.00; 'received:209.85.223': 0.03; 'preferably': 0.05; '*not*': 0.07; '21,': 0.07; 'badly': 0.07; 'tool,': 0.07; 'cc:addr:python-list': 0.09; 'before.': 0.09; 'canvas.': 0.09; 'effect.': 0.09; 'subject:Why': 0.09; 'systems.': 0.11; 'subject:python': 0.14; '"right"': 0.16; '"system': 0.16; '2016': 0.16; 'from:addr:rosuav': 0.16; 'from:name:chris angelico': 0.16; 'partly': 0.16; 'received:io': 0.16; 'received:psf.io': 0.16; 'sytem': 0.16; 'whatsoever': 0.16; 'worst': 0.16; 'wrote:': 0.16; 'obviously': 0.16; "wouldn't": 0.16; 'project,': 0.18; 'solution.': 0.18; 'people,': 0.20; 'cc:2**0': 0.20; 'cc:addr:python.org': 0.20; 'first,': 0.20; 'saying': 0.22; 'artist': 0.22; 'programming': 0.22; '(or': 0.23; 'specified': 0.23; 'header:In-Reply-To:1': 0.24; 'mon,': 0.24; "i've": 0.25; 'least': 0.27; 'message-id:@mail.gmail.com': 0.27; 'another.': 0.29; 'dan': 0.29; "i'm": 0.30; 'normally': 0.30; 'another': 0.32; 'related': 0.32; 'possibly': 0.32; 'maybe': 0.33; 'usually': 0.33; 'true.': 0.33; 'worked': 0.34; 'handle': 0.34; 'received:google.com': 0.35; 'done': 0.35; 'subject:use': 0.35; 'but': 0.36; 'should': 0.36; 'instead': 0.36; 'tool': 0.36; 'received:209.85': 0.36; 'heard': 0.36; 'subject:?': 0.36; 'pm,': 0.36; 'subject:: ': 0.37; 'two': 0.37; 'operating': 0.37; 'things': 0.38; 'received:209': 0.38; 'where': 0.40; 'some': 0.40; 'claim': 0.61; 'decision': 0.61; 'more': 0.63; 'mar': 0.65; 'store,': 0.66; 'results': 0.66; 'jobs': 0.67; 'costs': 0.67; 'choose': 0.68; 'treat': 0.72; 'chrisa': 0.84; 'portrait': 0.84; 'viewpoints': 0.84; 'subject:you': 0.85; 'to:none': 0.91 DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20120113; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:date:message-id:subject:from:cc; bh=JZrgRY1cfhLvnYUWVin/sx2PvSlds9tK6cGkQQtxHk4=; b=Qloas0tZNNseMl0TQXeGaCgJLoLBdWLNZJZtPMeDnJeEQNjAS6vISRJt5p3OMsROQQ tGxOChV2tviBKRNN/CTzlrwxd593j7F4QDmqyeamylWNCXpFR9rzUbzK5zMs+UoU1k+t 90KrvrCJa/I8MRWB9wF3xgaVZ5I7Mq5ftVtXXDcWCkqwPr/Av5PDeaP7SvQ7BsyYT6+l 6J6AGmWKgq7u6XuAhjNf6iEwJn2odMJl8YNBWk6eEcsEYCTnS1Sa4Re9CLELvYxVDuhh x/SWSg8c2G6G692SnTFlWzDD5ZjzdEtufEwxtaSsXEpZOiPw4cdANpOiDrXSB6cD4HJA OIYQ== X-Google-DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=1e100.net; s=20130820; h=x-gm-message-state:mime-version:in-reply-to:references:date :message-id:subject:from:cc; bh=JZrgRY1cfhLvnYUWVin/sx2PvSlds9tK6cGkQQtxHk4=; b=a2JYIqsEen2anIpEBzI6cECYhSTvuEQ1ZUqpSuM99jihTYTSkR+lt0W//h9Av5WWZi xrEh2gkOWhG2Bc1pDAGjqOGlwRB19ZwFcYQkxs5W31Xb7J5zedhwiCjWk0rP6Ja9Fdyk +M7v7pUBAoF8wfez9qzbHxtXUygpAdVNAx4Is6NDcwakoGcaYDU2+99lOzivtzwoMp3M fg7csKPxgrz1phjoNvGuZi9uoa0UkmAkiZdF2Az8uCGyB/SaRqqDrV2xxPKoDRNPPyOE HOJz11mLJPVo1e+ljIVvf99Ddlbzdr+t3qMgnHfvfAhPLDu3vT5BaIbU3SLEAy19Jdaw j/7w== X-Gm-Message-State: AD7BkJLDfETsvgyc5ZuX+A4mFv6KhxEDUMQkua7tId5E+ssp1+iJ3D/SQBFVCRq924QgpEu2eiFS08JaUOsOdg== X-Received: by 10.107.128.104 with SMTP id b101mr25889925iod.31.1458536954380; Sun, 20 Mar 2016 22:09:14 -0700 (PDT) In-Reply-To: X-BeenThere: python-list@python.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.21 Precedence: list List-Id: General discussion list for the Python programming language List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Xref: csiph.com comp.lang.python:105336 On Mon, Mar 21, 2016 at 3:49 PM, Dan Sommers wrote: >> So instead of treating programming like a plumber at a hardware store, >> treat it like an artist with a canvas. You wouldn't normally see a >> portrait done partly in watercolor and partly in oils - or if it is, >> it's for a VERY deliberate effect. You'd more often see one style used >> for one project, and maybe another one used for another. > > Both viewpoints must be tempered in order to create successful systems. > > I've worked on jobs where the tool or target operating sytem (singular) > was chosen first, or specified as part of the "system requirements," and > it can work out just as badly as a hellspawn hodge-podge of a solution. > We've all heard the one about all problems looking like nails. > > It should, by now, go without saying, but choose the right tool (or > tools) for the job, where "right" includes any number of things *not* > related to its immediate implementation, and often includes some number > of things *counter* to an obviously superior, in one way or another, > implementation. True. I'm not saying you should never use more than one tool, but that every additional tool used costs exponentially in complexity. And people who claim they should use any tool whatsoever usually use "I know this tool" as the most important criterion in the decision - which results in the worst kind of hodge-podge. Possibly the best way to handle it is to have to justify every new tool you use to at least two other people, preferably people who have never used it before. ChrisA