6 ms·

I can't believe they (devs) chose python over ruby or java or scala or ANYTHING but python.

by voxx 14y ago

david_shaw 14y ago
They actually opened it up to additional funding specifically to include Python. That money was raised based on community support (including financial support), so now they're including it. Why are you so surprised that there'd be support/choices for Python?
theootz 14y ago
And what's wrong with Python?
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- sgrove 14y ago
  Python's a great fit, certainly a more straight-forward one than java/scala. Presumably python/ruby would be equally interesting additions to Light Table
- peterhajas 14y ago
  I'm guessing the commenter has a thing against Python for some reason.
achompas 14y ago
Fortunately Light Table will have support for packaging, so users can add any language they want.
Tuna-Fish 14y ago
Scala and Java are reasonably well served by traditional IDEs. Dynamic languages (such as ruby and python) are not, and based on the presentations, that's the market he is trying to serve. As for the choice between Ruby and Python, they are sufficiently similar that most of the work done to make one work will help with the other, and the choice mostly is which one he wants to support first. Python has a bigger community.
- mark_l_watson 14y ago
  I mostly agree with you: Using IntelliJ (Java) and Rubymine (Ruby) is a great experience, however PyCharm (Python) provides the same nice dev experience. All that said, I contributed fairly early on, and I wish that they would concentrate on just Clojure. The reason for my preference is that the LT devs are going to be exploring new ways to code and experimenting with just one language seems sufficient.
melling 14y ago
More people program in Python so they have a larger market to target than Ruby or Scala. If you're trying to start a business that's probably the best way to choose. I would guess that Ruby would soon follow.
dwc 14y ago
I think it would be nice if the linked kickstarter page (which has many "why this" and "what about that" answers) explained why they chose Python. I'm pretty baffled. Just because it's popular? Better to pick C# then. Because it's... er, I can't even think of another reason.
- sigwhite 14y ago
  Let's consider the "obvious" choices by examing the TIOBE top 10: 1. C - Not really the target audience of a tool like this. 2. Java - See above, plus plenty of competition. 3. C++ - See C. 4. Objective-C - See C, also arguably a bit of a niche (iOS). 5. C# - See Java, VirtualStudio dominates. 6. PHP - Yeah, right. 7. (Visual) Basic - Who are you kidding? 8. Python - Oh, right. 9. Perl - Only ranks high because of sys admins. 10. JavaScript - Already covered. 11. Ruby - Like Python, see below. Basically your question seems to boil down to either of these: 1. Why was Python picked over Java/C#? 2. Why was Python picked over Ruby? As for #1: the answer should seem obvious if you consider the category the three languages (JS, Clojure and Python) share. Plus, the market is very different and the competition is very strong and established. As for Ruby: It's probably personal preference. There really isn't any objective reason to pick Python over Ruby or vice versa. The two are more similar than either of them would like to admit and they are perfectly interchangeable in most situations.
onedev 14y ago
Because Python is great. I love it and I'm glad it's being supported. Thanks for your snide remark though.
- voxx 14y ago
  you're welcome, scrub.

I can't believe they (devs) chose python over ruby or java or scala or ANYTHING but python.

by voxx 14y ago

I can't believe they (devs) chose python over ruby or java or scala or ANYTHING but python.

They actually opened it up to additional funding specifically to include Python. That money was raised based on community support (including financial support), so now they're including it. Why are you so surprised that there'd be support/choices for Python?

theootz 14y ago

And what's wrong with Python?

deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
sgrove 14y ago
Python's a great fit, certainly a more straight-forward one than java/scala. Presumably python/ruby would be equally interesting additions to Light Table
peterhajas 14y ago
I'm guessing the commenter has a thing against Python for some reason.

achompas 14y ago

Fortunately Light Table will have support for packaging, so users can add any language they want.

Tuna-Fish 14y ago

Scala and Java are reasonably well served by traditional IDEs. Dynamic languages (such as ruby and python) are not, and based on the presentations, that's the market he is trying to serve. As for the choice between Ruby and Python, they are sufficiently similar that most of the work done to make one work will help with the other, and the choice mostly is which one he wants to support first. Python has a bigger community.

mark_l_watson 14y ago
I mostly agree with you: Using IntelliJ (Java) and Rubymine (Ruby) is a great experience, however PyCharm (Python) provides the same nice dev experience. All that said, I contributed fairly early on, and I wish that they would concentrate on just Clojure. The reason for my preference is that the LT devs are going to be exploring new ways to code and experimenting with just one language seems sufficient.

melling 14y ago

More people program in Python so they have a larger market to target than Ruby or Scala. If you're trying to start a business that's probably the best way to choose. I would guess that Ruby would soon follow.

dwc 14y ago

I think it would be nice if the linked kickstarter page (which has many "why this" and "what about that" answers) explained why they chose Python. I'm pretty baffled. Just because it's popular? Better to pick C# then. Because it's... er, I can't even think of another reason.

sigwhite 14y ago
Let's consider the "obvious" choices by examing the TIOBE top 10: 1. C - Not really the target audience of a tool like this. 2. Java - See above, plus plenty of competition. 3. C++ - See C. 4. Objective-C - See C, also arguably a bit of a niche (iOS). 5. C# - See Java, VirtualStudio dominates. 6. PHP - Yeah, right. 7. (Visual) Basic - Who are you kidding? 8. Python - Oh, right. 9. Perl - Only ranks high because of sys admins. 10. JavaScript - Already covered. 11. Ruby - Like Python, see below. Basically your question seems to boil down to either of these: 1. Why was Python picked over Java/C#? 2. Why was Python picked over Ruby? As for #1: the answer should seem obvious if you consider the category the three languages (JS, Clojure and Python) share. Plus, the market is very different and the competition is very strong and established. As for Ruby: It's probably personal preference. There really isn't any objective reason to pick Python over Ruby or vice versa. The two are more similar than either of them would like to admit and they are perfectly interchangeable in most situations.

onedev 14y ago

Because Python is great. I love it and I'm glad it's being supported. Thanks for your snide remark though.

voxx 14y ago
you're welcome, scrub.