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Everyone claims to be able to explain in hindsight why something became popular. I believe that the overwhelming factor of why something does or does not becom
by Blikkentrekker 6y ago
Everyone claims to be able to explain in hindsight why something became popular.
I believe that the overwhelming factor of why something does or does not become popular is simply chaotic luck.
In an alternate history where Python was designed exactly the same, but a butterfly at Guido's desk flapped his wings slightly differently, Python would have been obscure.
- cutler 6y agoAgreed. Well put.
- mumblemumble 6y ago> I believe that the overwhelming factor of why something does or does not become popular is simply chaotic luck. This seems to me a bit like saying, "That color isn't cerulean, it's blue." Describing the specific instances of serendipity that have led to Python's continuing success doesn't imply that it wasn't dumb luck. It's just a way of saying, "Here's an interesting bit of dumb luck."
- bachmeier 6y agoThis is technically correct, but it's also true that if a group of dedicated Python enthusiasts (led by Travis Oliphant) hadn't created a Python ecosystem before they had users, we can say with certainty that Python would not have taken off in the numerical computing space. In 2005, when I was looking for a new language, I really wanted to use Python but it was simply not an option.
- omilu 6y agoMy theory is python is a cool sounding name for a programming language which contributed greatly to its success.