4 ms·

Python sometimes runs slowly, because it's not designed to run fast. It's designed to be readable and easy to write, which in turn makes developing python faste

Python sometimes runs slowly, because it's not designed to run fast. It's designed to be readable and easy to write, which in turn makes developing python faster. It's a compromise, but I always prioritise _my_ time over my computers time, so if I can write something quickly and just go and get a coffee while it runs - I will do that. I won't spend twice as long writing a single-run script just because it'll finish before the kettle has boiled.

elcritch 5y ago
That’s where Nim can shine. For simple scripts both Python and Nim are about as easy to write. But the Nim version usually runs a lot faster. Static types help for basic data munging when you haven’t used a script for months to get up to speed and make tweaks.
- jimbob45 5y ago
  Sadly, I think you’re spot-on about Nim’s future as the realization of the alternative timeline where Python didn’t make several stupid design choices (e.g. the GIL, Python 3). It’s a shame because I think Nim has some neat features that allow it to present as a serious competitor to Rust but it will ultimately have to compete against Python instead to secure its niche.
  - elcritch 5y ago
    Oh yes, Nim definitely feels like an alternate reality where Python 2 became static and dumped some poor design choices. Well I believe there's room between Rust and Python where Nim can grow. It made the TIOBE top 50 lately even. Likely it can eat enough market share from the edges of both Rust & Python to become more well known (more libs, tools, etc). Rust is fantastic but tedious to program (to me at least) and it's community focuses on more formal type traits, etc making "scripting" trickier. Python is great for a mix of quick scripts, web dev, and data science but it's slow enough (and getting complex enough!) for many to want something faster and more stable yet still easy to write. Nim lives in between them and is more enjoyable to write than either for many. Also, Nim _could_ add Rust as a backend target and be relevant even if Rust displaces C/C++. ;) Nim is also great for embedded systems too! I've been using it a fair bit and it's really nice [1]. There's a lot of room to grow in that field. 1: https://github.com/elcritch/nesper https://github.com/elcritch/nesper
DeathArrow 5y ago
>It's designed to be readable and easy to write So is Golang.
- stjohnswarts 5y ago
  Go is precisely what I switched to for my test/automation efforts.
pjmlp 5y ago
There are plenty of compiled languages that are also designed to be readable and easy to write.
nerdponx 5y ago
You can also drop in PyPy and get a significant speedup on "loopy" string processing tasks with no changes in your code.
gameswithgo 5y ago
You can have Python syntax without Python slow.
- dunefox 5y ago
  And functional and static with F#.

elcritch 5y ago

That’s where Nim can shine. For simple scripts both Python and Nim are about as easy to write. But the Nim version usually runs a lot faster. Static types help for basic data munging when you haven’t used a script for months to get up to speed and make tweaks.

jimbob45 5y ago
Sadly, I think you’re spot-on about Nim’s future as the realization of the alternative timeline where Python didn’t make several stupid design choices (e.g. the GIL, Python 3). It’s a shame because I think Nim has some neat features that allow it to present as a serious competitor to Rust but it will ultimately have to compete against Python instead to secure its niche.
- elcritch 5y ago
  Oh yes, Nim definitely feels like an alternate reality where Python 2 became static and dumped some poor design choices. Well I believe there's room between Rust and Python where Nim can grow. It made the TIOBE top 50 lately even. Likely it can eat enough market share from the edges of both Rust & Python to become more well known (more libs, tools, etc). Rust is fantastic but tedious to program (to me at least) and it's community focuses on more formal type traits, etc making "scripting" trickier. Python is great for a mix of quick scripts, web dev, and data science but it's slow enough (and getting complex enough!) for many to want something faster and more stable yet still easy to write. Nim lives in between them and is more enjoyable to write than either for many. Also, Nim _could_ add Rust as a backend target and be relevant even if Rust displaces C/C++. ;) Nim is also great for embedded systems too! I've been using it a fair bit and it's really nice [1]. There's a lot of room to grow in that field. 1: https://github.com/elcritch/nesper https://github.com/elcritch/nesper

DeathArrow 5y ago

>It's designed to be readable and easy to write So is Golang.

stjohnswarts 5y ago
Go is precisely what I switched to for my test/automation efforts.

pjmlp 5y ago

There are plenty of compiled languages that are also designed to be readable and easy to write.

nerdponx 5y ago

You can also drop in PyPy and get a significant speedup on "loopy" string processing tasks with no changes in your code.

gameswithgo 5y ago

You can have Python syntax without Python slow.

dunefox 5y ago
And functional and static with F#.