Paul Bissex just posted a
simple three-step procedure for how one might become acquainted with the changes coming in Python 3 (née Python 3000). The mere mention of Python 3 prompted me to start writing a comment for Paul’s post, but it went on long enough that I figured it wiser to post here.
In understanding Python 3, I think it’s equally important (especially for those of us who might not walk on the beaten path with regard to domains, types of apps, etc) to review
PEP 3099, which outlines what
won’t be included in Python 3.
Personally, reading PEPs 3099 and 3100 (which Paul references in his post) is depressing. I’ll explain why by example and contrast. Consider
this post from GvR from about a year ago:
But please save your breath. Programmable syntax is not in Python’s future — or at least it’s not for Python 3000. The problem IMO is that everybody will abuse it to define their own language. And the problem with that is that it will fracture the Python community because nobody can read each other’s code any more.
This is predictable, especially given GvR’s prior comments on various topics surrounding more “esoteric” features like multiline anonymous functions, operator overloading, etc., etc., etc. However, compare and contrast that to
this slideshow from Ruby’s Matz from about two years ago. I don’t have a money quote, but the difference in attitude and approach is staggering. There’s a line in Annie Hall (I think, or some other Woody Allen movie) where Woody’s character says that relationships are like sharks: they must continue to move forward in order to survive.
Now, I’m not saying that Python is dying somehow — far from it. However, I think it’s safe to say that it has stopped growing (and hasn’t grown significantly since v2.2 with the great class/type unification). Meanwhile, Ruby is “a white-hot nexus of innovation”, according to
Tim Bray, anyway; and really, anyone who knows and cares about what Python is lacking in terms of expressiveness and capability would agree.
At this point, you might fairly assume that I’m some kind of Ruby booster, but in fact, about 90% of the coding I do these days is in Python, and that has been the case for almost 3 years. And as much as I enjoy working in Python, it has not (and looks like it will not) grow along with the problems that I need to solve.
Part II: The feedback to this post has been significant, both in comments here, on reddit, by email, and elsewhere on the net. You can read my summary follow up
here.