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RIP, Python

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6 pointsandreyf12 comments

There's a great deal more to a language than syntax: libraries, actual implementations, and so forth (so say nothing of documentation, community and other non-code matters).

PEP 3003 puts the brakes (temporarily!) on one point of evolution - giving the rest time to catch up. Certainly, it hardly spells the death of the language.

Oh the DRAMA! Really, a short hold on syntax changes doesn't seem like the end of the world. Especially when almost nobody is using Python 3000 yet.

This seems like a sensible move, even if the geek in me doesn't love it.

A bit of an overreaction, I'd say.

You're probably right - syntax changes were practically impossible to implement anyway. What upsets me is the mindset a community must be in to propose and pass such a decision - thinking we've reached a somewhat optimal expression of syntax for Python is very proud and foolish.

I don't think anyone is saying that python syntax has reached such an apex of perfection that it cannot be improved.

The two issues that drive this moratorium are the alternate implementations need to catch up with the current state of python. And, more importantly in my view; the need to focus attention on overhauling the standard library and porting it and external packages to python3. This is a resource allocation shift, that's all.

That's a valid argument. If your blog post had mentioned anything nearly as reasonable as what you just typed, this comment thread wouldn't be here.

Well if it bothers you so much, you have the freedom/right to not use Python. Furthermore, I sense that the majority does not share your sickness. And I personally see your view a bit distorted, but that would be my view/opinion.

Okay, I'm going to come out and say it. This is a sign of the times, and it's a very bad sign. This "article" never would've made it to the news.yc front page two years ago. No chance. It's reactionary flame bait and has zero content.

I think there needs to be some kind of moderation system here (perhaps members with high karma would be able to vote on instantly zapping an article, or something to that affect), or we're going to go the way of reddit.

What's the point of this inflammatory piece? Did the author speak up in the relevant forum? Others certainly did.

The very first sentence in the PEP states that language changes will again be allowed in 3.3, several years is not really that long for something so essential as the language itself.

Not only is it an overreaction, I can't find a moment in history to support it. Has a language ever gone out of favor because of a couple of years of a lack of syntax changes? Like, ever?

I like that python is trying to work with projects that have become large and essentially help support it, hopefully much good comes out of this like libraries being upgraded etc.

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