Ask HN: Is ease in getting started the key for Python's success?

Re:Ask HN: Is ease in getting started the key for Python's s... by carapace on Tuesday August 09, 2022 @11:40AM (#32399429)

I'm a Python fan, or was. Here's my $0.02:

Python is a very complex dynamic system that pretends to be a very simple dynamic system.

Before Python 3 it was (on the surface) very simple and easy to learn. It was often called "runnable pseudocode".

However, as you and I and many others have seen, once a Python script grows beyond a certain size/complexity the dynamic simplicity begins to become a liability rather than an advantage.

BEGIN RANT

After Python 3 the language has become much more complex on the surface level. Also, features like type hints etc. that make it more tractable to large team projects have been added.

These developments move Python away from it's sweet spot or niche of optimal applicability. The closer Python becomes to being a slow interpreted version of Haskel or OCaml (or Julia, etc.) the more irrelevant it becomes, eh?

END RANT

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Re:Ask HN: Is ease in getting started the key for Python's s... by Daishiman on Tuesday August 09, 2022 @03:14PM (#32402654)

The added complexity in Python 3 isn’t a barrier to entry for beginner programmers. They don’t suddenly need to know more to write basic programs, but they can access new language facilities when making more complex ones.

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Re:Ask HN: Is ease in getting started the key for Python's s... by carapace on Tuesday August 09, 2022 @07:59PM (#32406280)

That's true (I assume, I have no data.) FWIW, I agree with the OP that Python's growth in popularity was, at least in part, due to its surface simplicity and readability.

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Re:Ask HN: Is ease in getting started the key for Python's s... by rlawson on Wednesday August 10, 2022 @06:55AM (#32410032)

Ok this is a great point you make!

"Python is a very complex dynamic system that pretends to be a very simple dynamic system."

Python is easy to get started with but surprisingly deep to learn and I would argue not as straightforward as Java or C#. However, I like Python tremendously and find it more elegant if not as utilitarian. I think lots of folks equate Python == easy. IMO - Python is easy to get started, difficult to master.

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