@futurebird That's kind of like "German is the English of human languages". Python and JavaScript are both programming languages; JavaScript has invaded everywhere and is kind of a mess, kind of like English.

@not2b

going on the "offended then gigging" roller coaster again

@futurebird Javascript is the language of advertising. Python is the language of CS courses, where we're not concerned with efficiency.

Neither of them are really suitable for anything where you need long term stability; there are clouds of dependencies variously maintained, so over time you are nigh-certain to experience surprise.

@graydon @futurebird A colleague tells me that his Python programs have a half-life of six months.

@Virginicus @graydon

Because of the language changing?
As a teacher, I spend most of my time working with the basics of the language. So, I think I'm less aware of the changes which seem to have more impacts on the wider family of libraries.

I like python because it has all of the major elements of a proper modern programming language and the code looks uncluttered and human readable. It looks like pseudo code, and, in a way, I really want to teach in pseudo code.

@Virginicus @graydon

Design an algorithm, implement the algorithm. Use logical operators correctly, subtize and abstract a problem into variables, objects, functions, and understand both the potential and limitations of your abstraction.

Those are the big ideas I'm trying to teach.

I also have come to like the "soft typing" of python. Variable types are important, but some of the time it makes doing simple tasks so cluttered the main idea can get lost.