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Tour de Babel

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27 pointsluu10 comments

Amazing, must read article. Also rare one that confirms I am not crazy -- Python spacing sucks and I don't like it. Which did confuse me for a long time, I did dislike Python indentation while everybody else telling how great it is.

I can't remember I ever read article that so much fits my own language preferences, but I am an old guy so it may be matter of years/experience.

Some of Python's syntax can be turn-off yeah. I clearly remember some time around 2003/2004 where I was considering either Python or Ruby, saw significant whitespace and "True" (uppercase) and decided that was not for me. Glad I picked Ruby, it definitely didn't strike gold like Python did (not necessarily on its own merits) but I still love the language's esthetics to this day.

PS: All of this seems really vain, but like it or not, the reason you end up picking a language over another one when you're younger is often a matter of "it feels right".

Yeah, 'feels right' is almost always my primary criteria too. I don't do much scripting but when I do it is either (rarely) bash or (almost always) Ruby, never Python. I am doing some Apple apps too but I can't start to like swift because it doesn't feel right.

Be sure not to confuse subjective opinion for objective fact. "I don't like X" does not imply "X is bad".

Isn't every single claim subjective opinion? If any claim from me and you correlates we can call it 'objective' but that only means there is group of us that accidentally share subjective opinion. For every X we hate and every Y two of us love, there is third guy that hates Y and loves X.

Also rare one that confirms I am not crazy -- Python spacing sucks and I don't like it.

By talking about people "confirming" that something "sucks", even with the qualifier on the end, you're slipping into "I don't like it, therefore nobody should".

'rare one' I used should clarify. I never speak for others so always surprised I have to explain that. Although I do have badge that allows me to represent entire planet I don't use it ;)

Good classic article, should be dated (2010) though.

> (Published September 2004. Minor updates on 3/28/2006)

Whoops, missed that, thanks!

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