4 ms·

> Javascript I think Python would be so much better. These languages are almost the same technically, but Python has the better syntax and better errors. (ok

> Javascript I think Python would be so much better. These languages are almost the same technically, but Python has the better syntax and better errors. (ok I just realise it hasn't the same support for lambdas but they just make me think of node.js style anyway...)

kwoff 9y ago
(as a Perl programmer, FWIW) I think Python is beating Perl due to better support for integrating with C++, or at least more modern C/C++ libraries have bindings for Python. Otherwise, if you argue for syntactic simplicity, you at least have to explain why Lisp doesn't dominate (or why do Lisp dialects based on Java become popular instead of directly Lisp?). I don't understand yet the apparent appeal of Go, except maybe its support for concurrency (definitely needed).
- jstimpfle 9y ago
  I think it's actually more about the errors than the syntax. But Python getting rid of braces by enforcing indentation is just the way to go IMO. Don't want to start another tiresome thread about LISP syntax, but I'm one of those people who prefer C style expressions - as long as no heavy higher-level functional programming is required, for which I by now see almost no practical use at all. As a funny quip, Larry Wall referred to LISP looks as "oatmeal with fingerclips mixed in".
- stephen82 9y ago
  May I ask what exactly you mean with "integrating with C++"? Because RPerl does exactly this and works with both Perl5 and Perl6 thanks to its own Perl11 philosophy (Perl5 + Perl6 = Perl11). Basically it translates a medium-magic subset of Perl 5 into C/C++ using Inline::C and Inline::CPP.
thomascgalvin 9y ago
You would have to name off a long list of languages before you hit one I didn't think was better than Javascript. Python does seem to hit the sweet spot of "user friendly" and "maintainable" that Javascript shoots for but never hits. I actually consider Dart the "perfect" Javascript. I wish it had wider adoption, and ways to integrate a GUI that aren't "AngularDart in a web browser." Kotlin is my latest fetish. I haven't played around with its JS transpiler yet, or it's native builds, but I'm cautiously hopeful.
- zem 9y ago
  haxe comes a little closer to the perfect javascript than dart does, just because it has algebraic datatypes and pattern matching. also one of the easiest languages i've seen to just pick up and start using based on familiarity with other common languages.

kwoff 9y ago

(as a Perl programmer, FWIW) I think Python is beating Perl due to better support for integrating with C++, or at least more modern C/C++ libraries have bindings for Python. Otherwise, if you argue for syntactic simplicity, you at least have to explain why Lisp doesn't dominate (or why do Lisp dialects based on Java become popular instead of directly Lisp?). I don't understand yet the apparent appeal of Go, except maybe its support for concurrency (definitely needed).

jstimpfle 9y ago
I think it's actually more about the errors than the syntax. But Python getting rid of braces by enforcing indentation is just the way to go IMO. Don't want to start another tiresome thread about LISP syntax, but I'm one of those people who prefer C style expressions - as long as no heavy higher-level functional programming is required, for which I by now see almost no practical use at all. As a funny quip, Larry Wall referred to LISP looks as "oatmeal with fingerclips mixed in".
stephen82 9y ago
May I ask what exactly you mean with "integrating with C++"? Because RPerl does exactly this and works with both Perl5 and Perl6 thanks to its own Perl11 philosophy (Perl5 + Perl6 = Perl11). Basically it translates a medium-magic subset of Perl 5 into C/C++ using Inline::C and Inline::CPP.

thomascgalvin 9y ago

You would have to name off a long list of languages before you hit one I didn't think was better than Javascript. Python does seem to hit the sweet spot of "user friendly" and "maintainable" that Javascript shoots for but never hits. I actually consider Dart the "perfect" Javascript. I wish it had wider adoption, and ways to integrate a GUI that aren't "AngularDart in a web browser." Kotlin is my latest fetish. I haven't played around with its JS transpiler yet, or it's native builds, but I'm cautiously hopeful.

zem 9y ago
haxe comes a little closer to the perfect javascript than dart does, just because it has algebraic datatypes and pattern matching. also one of the easiest languages i've seen to just pick up and start using based on familiarity with other common languages.