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The great "script vs programming language debate". The difference is clear to you because you have a clear definition in your mind. The problem is that the defi
by calibas 6y ago
The great "script vs programming language debate". The difference is clear to you because you have a clear definition in your mind. The problem is that the definition changes depending on who you talk to, which invites endless debate.
- vlunkr 6y agoWell it's a pretty bad debate if people aren't agreeing on definitions. Hence this whole chain of comments.
- ptx 6y agoBasing the definition on whether it's compiled or not doesn't help much. Python is actually compiled to bytecode, just like Java. Is it not a scripting language? Or is the distinction that the Python bytecode is interpreted whereas Java is JIT compiled to machine code? Well, Java didn't get the JIT compiler until version 1.3 - so was Java 1.2 a scripting language?
- sjy 6y agoThe distinction is the existence, from the developer’s perspective, of a separate step called “compilation,” which produces an executable artefact which can be distributed but not converted back to the source code. It’s about programming in practice, not fundamental computer science principles.
- ptx 6y agoI agree, this practical view makes more sense. However, the Kotlin compiler can be invoked either explicitly like Java or implicitly like Python. Is Kotlin a scripting language?