The Python Paradox, by Paul Graham

GnuVince writes "Paul Graham has posted a new article to his website that he called "The Python Paradox" which refines the statements he made in "Great Hackers" about Python programmers being better hackers than Java programmers. He basically says that since Python is not the kind of language that lands you a job like Java, those who learn it seek more than simply financial benefits, they seek better tools. Very interesting read."

FP

[Anonymous Coward]

System.out.println("First Post");

Shame.

[Draconix]

Python is not the kind of language that lands you a job like Java

Because otherwise, the business world would be that much less bass-ackwards.

I am positive...

[That's Unpossible!]

...a civil discussion will ensue.

Re:nonsense...

[NSash]

I will bask in the irrelevance of your glorious, insightful comment.

(Come back when you RTFA, or even RTF-summary, ya hear?)

That's all well and good...

[lobsterGun]

I''ll be willing to buy his theory that python hackers are better than java hackers... ..so long as he buys my theory that lisp hackers are better than python hackers.

Re:The way source code looks

[geniusj]

I love you, Ruby!

Re:Yea

[Anonymous Coward]

I strongly suspect no routine/application exists which is "best" accomplished in brainfuck.

Confused

[Ranx]

First we hear is't a huge disadvantage when a programmer doesn't know the business-side of software development. And now it's the other way around.

I'm confused.

Re:Yea

[stratjakt]

If a design goal was "any attempt to reverse engineer the source will drive the person attempting to do so completely insane", then perhaps.

Re:Yea

[Mateito]

Except, when I call you into a "meet the client and wear a suit... okay, a tie then? Ok.. but at least put some shoes on" meeting, please please please don't tell them you've written their application in "brainfuck".

(No, haven't had the experience, but I'm waiting for it)

Re:The way source code looks

[Evangelion]

Hey if you want readability, Perl has 'em all beat:

for(keys %{$hr}){$hr{$_}->s($x);}

Re:Yea

[brunson]

Perl is the vice grips of the programming world. Sure it'll do the job, but there's usually a better tool for it.

Re:Yea

[JPelorat]

Nearly all female subroutines appear to be written in it.

Re:I am positive...

[dasmegabyte]

Well, sure. What do you expect when we have a guy claiming not only that one language is better than another but also that it is better because the others because the users aren't greedy?I wonder how else we can pad programmer's egos based on completely subjective hypothesis on language choice?

• Perl users have more dense social lives.
  
• Ruby users have big, full beards chicks love to run their hands through.
  
• VB users have sensible shoes and drive Toyotas.
  
• C++ users enjoy a good mystery now and then.
  
• PHP users probably own one or more Dremel multitools.
  
• Javascripters are full of little trivia snippets and are great fun at parties.
  
• Cold Fusion users are kind of quiet but have very deep thoughts.
  
• SQL programmers have annoying laughs but are otherwise okay guys
  

Oh, and C# users have bigger dicks. But that can be proven empirically.

Re:Not true!

[Anonymous Coward]

and all but one of those millionaires came from
the 255 people

of course...that last one was the broadcast person.

Re:Python doesn't land you a better job

[osobear]

ahhh, Slashdot, the place where "Oh, bullshit" is an insightful comment.

Hm.

[cbiffle]

So, following this hypothesis, the tools for the Brainfuck programming language should be best of all? I've -never- seen a BF job posting.

Now he has pissed off *everybody*

[Sloppy]

First, Java programmers weren't as smart as Python programmers.

Now, Python is "esoteric." Esoteric?!? Them's fightin' words! Python is for everybody, and one of the easiest languages to learn.

Re:Why I like Python

[aled]

Syntactic sugar makes code fat.

If She Weighs the Same as a Duck

[Anonymous Coward]

Then she's made of wood....

ok, not quite a paradox, but a Python logicism nonetheless.

"There, I've run circles round you, logically" - John Cleese, the penguin on the television sketch

Re:He likes Small Is Better, which isn't Java

[indigeek]

You missed the fact that Richard Stallman has proven that a full operating system can be written in lisp. He even attained sainthood for it.
Too bad he never managed to write a good editor for it.

Re:Why I like Python

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah...umm...when Paul was talking about great programmers liking Python...he...ummm...wasn't talking about you.