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In all three cases, Python, Go and Rust, the language and ecosystem may be in the hands of an organization, but you can probably produce code productively in it

In all three cases, Python, Go and Rust, the language and ecosystem may be in the hands of an organization, but you can probably produce code productively in it for years even if the organization went under or chose unacceptable paths. Go is quite unique in that it produces very independent binaries. This might make software written in it quite future-proof. Personally I like Python's philosophy and the way the community is run. I like the trajectory. I understand the trade-offs. And I am sure as hell not going to teach Go or Rust as a first programming language to people who aren't computer science students. And even then...

gbear605 8y ago
I think a “rust with GC” could actually be a very good intro language. The borrow checker is more than beginners can handle though.
- rujuladanh 8y ago
  There is little point to introduce a GC in Rust. If you don't mind a GC, you have nicer languages out there.
  - gbear605 8y ago
    From my perspective, of all the languages that I’ve tried (Java, C, C++, Javascript, Haskell, OCAML, Python, several lisps), PHP, Swift), Rust is the best even without the borrow checker, and the borrow checker is just a nice bonus. Admittedly, there are many languages that I haven’t tried, and I haven’t done significant work with all of those.
vram22 8y ago
>Go is quite unique in that it produces very independent binaries. This might make software written in it quite future-proof. What do you mean by "it produces very independent binaries."? Do you mean that Go implements system calls itself, instead using corresponding wrappers from the OS's underlying C library? I read something like that recently, but haven't looked into the point yet.
- bayesian_horse 8y ago
  "Very independent" doesn't mean totally independent. In particular Go doesn't do shared libraries.
  - vram22 8y ago
    Cool, thanks.

gbear605 8y ago

I think a “rust with GC” could actually be a very good intro language. The borrow checker is more than beginners can handle though.

rujuladanh 8y ago
There is little point to introduce a GC in Rust. If you don't mind a GC, you have nicer languages out there.
- gbear605 8y ago
  From my perspective, of all the languages that I’ve tried (Java, C, C++, Javascript, Haskell, OCAML, Python, several lisps), PHP, Swift), Rust is the best even without the borrow checker, and the borrow checker is just a nice bonus. Admittedly, there are many languages that I haven’t tried, and I haven’t done significant work with all of those.

vram22 8y ago

>Go is quite unique in that it produces very independent binaries. This might make software written in it quite future-proof. What do you mean by "it produces very independent binaries."? Do you mean that Go implements system calls itself, instead using corresponding wrappers from the OS's underlying C library? I read something like that recently, but haven't looked into the point yet.

bayesian_horse 8y ago
"Very independent" doesn't mean totally independent. In particular Go doesn't do shared libraries.
- vram22 8y ago
  Cool, thanks.