John Sirbu
Posts: 5
Nickname: silverleaf
Registered: Mar, 2006
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Re: Marketing Python - An Idea Whose Time Has Come
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Posted: Mar 27, 2006 6:17 AM
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@ Chris Hart
Are we afraid of RoR and Ajax stealing our thunder?
The fact we work with a snake means we are pretty fearless individuals. ;P So it's not fear, it is more a general attitude of rebuke toward the R language. The "Lightning" (e.g. Zen and Power) will always stay the same, "Thunder" (e.g. Adoption and "Branding") is just as important I believe.
There a pages arguments constantly talking about how "the best doesn't win, the mediocre is rewarded", classic VHS versus Betamax argument. Redundant question here... if you invest in a technology wouldn't you have wanted your investment to be supported?
I believe it is similar with any "new" technology or idea. With Python, we've have invested our time to improve and expand the language. It's power and simplicity is unparallel, and it is widely know that much of the R language/code implementation is based on Python (as of late much of the R community wish to say it is based on Perl).
Subconcious fear? No. Subconcious disdain? Maybe.
Of them making it impossible for us to code in Python?
Hobbists can code in any language however most will agree that their favorite tools are perferable to use rather then the ones that they HAVE to use.
Afraid we'll like them better?
Doubtful. Anyone who has had experiences with evangalists showing up at their front door handing out pamphlets, will concur. The "pushers" are very nice, nicest people around in fact. Yet, something about their mindset and pushy nature make them universaly rejected.
Granted the risk of becoming what you dispise is valid however in a community such as ours momentum is vital to our survival.
"Afraid of us becoming closet Ruby and JavaScript developers?"
There is a difference I would think between choosing a path and being forced down that path. Once again, Adoption, "Branding" and investment comes into play...
How about we take their best ideas and fold them into Python instead?
(Google->"History of Computer Languages")
Again, it is widely know that much of the R language/code implementation is based on Python (and again as of late much of the R community are starting say it is based on Perl).
The Japanese have an expression about what is valuable. "People need to put value on the nut not the flower..." I guess the analogy is about how the flower is ephemeral and the nut is real.
Rails is the only widely known "package" the rubbers have for the language at this time. And to go even further it is not even an "application" since it is a framework.
The great ideas were already put to good used in Python. Bittorrent, Inkscape, OGRE, BitPim, Fast Artificial Neural Network Library are some of the already developed and mature applications using Python.
4930 packages in Sourceforge using Python...
457 packages in Sourceforge using Ruby...
Ruby is only 2/3 years younger then Python, and it remained a language for tinkers (as reflected by it sparse offerings) yet it's mass push behind it's adoption due to one single framework makes no sense.
"What's the goal of evangelizing Python anyway?"
Recognition, elavation, and adoption of a language that deserves it.
-John
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