http://www.perlmonks.org?node_id=25608

I read the "Notes from the initial brainstorming session" about the development of Perl 6. One thing specially captured my attention:

<quote> Tom Christansen made a series of observations recently on where Perl and Python differ, and where Python offers improvements over Perl. This list of points should be considered when designing the Perl6 language. </quote>

I like Python very much. I think it's a good language for scripting and prototyping, as Perl. If I'll have this possibility, I'd like to use Python in a freshmen class to teaching programming. I'm glad to see Perl community (I know, Tom Christiansen is not Perl community) looking at other languages to improve Perl. What do you think?

Note I know this could be seen as a heretic meditation. Of course, I don't want to flame.

See you
Larsen

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
RE: Perl and Python
by perlmonkey (Hermit) on Aug 02, 2000 at 04:30 UTC
    I'm glad to see Perl community looking at other languages to improve Perl.

    You probably already know this, but I thought I would repeat it. It is my understanding that the Perl community has always looked to other languages for insipration. Larry took the good stuff he saw from sed, awk, C, lisp, ... This is not a new concept, but it is good to see that the tradition continues. How else will Perl continue to be the best language unless we keep our eyes open to see what we are competing against.
[reply]

      Larry said this on the perl6-language list today, I thought it was relevant to what you just said.

      At the moment, I'm not only trying to follow along here; I'm also reading all the books on computer languaes[sic] I can get my hands on--not just to look for ideas to steal, but also to remind myself of the mindset Perl was designed to escape. 

      local $_ = "0A72656B636148206C72655020726568746F6E41207473754A";
while(s/..$//) { print chr(hex($&)) }

      [download]

[reply]
[d/l]
RE: Perl and Python
by t0mas (Priest) on Aug 02, 2000 at 10:57 UTC
    Sometimes reality is a bit slower than fantasy, but it usually catches up in the end :)
    Have a look at this article (joke) Python-Perl merger from last week.

    /brother t0mas
[reply]
Freshman Programming
by Nitsuj (Hermit) on Aug 02, 2000 at 16:19 UTC
    If I were designing a CS curriculum, I would really concentrate on things such as data types/memory, things that perl really doesn't address, in the freshman year. I think that subsequent years are really the place for things such as perl, when you are more into the algorithmic side and such. Yes, these ARE the pitfalls that many freshmen computer science students fall into, but isn't it better to train them to be well disciplined programs with a strong knowledge of what is going on inside the computer from the start, than to listen to them whine about having to do it later? I can certainly see very strong arguments for teaching freshman programming in perl, for one thing, retention would probably be MUCH higher, and you wouldn't lose the students (mentally). I suppose that it is a VERY good idea in those respects. I have just made a circular argument. I suppose that either way, you are really good to go, but I think that my personal approach to it would be something a bit less abstract in nature. Not that I don't like perl guys.

    Just Another Perl Hacker
[reply]
      I didn't said I'd use Perl in a freshmen class. I said I'd use Python. In my opinion, having a language (like Python) that provides linguistic constructs to use high-level data structures helps students to learn how to solve a problem, rather than learn how to write a solution. To do this, there'll be a lot of time.

      Larsen

      p.s. I realized using English to express my ideas is a huge effort. I always see a gap between what I think and what I write :( Please be patience (and a bit imaginative).
[reply]

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