3 ms·
Ruby and Go both adopted extensively from Python, but both rejected the process described in OP of designing a language by iterative experimentation to determin
by spenrose 4y ago
Ruby and Go both adopted extensively from Python, but both rejected the process described in OP of designing a language by iterative experimentation to determine how coders would experience design choices. Instead, each relied on the judgment of a handful of experienced insiders. "*I* know which parts of Python are good and which suck; no need to run my ideas by a few dozen coders before committing to them."
Perhaps not coincidentally, neither has displaced Python. Go obviously had powerful backing from Google. I believe Ruby had enormous tailwinds from the need of the Java community c. 2005 to find an interpreted language, but not one with as mature a community as Python's was at the time. Ruby was at the sweet spot of "usable, but with plenty of niches left for alpha geeks looking to write blog posts."
Finally, I hypothesize the Amber-Brown-batteries-included and walrus-operator kerfuffles demonstrate the limits of managing infrastructure such as Python with the RFC / Usenet model.
- pjmlp 4y agoWe hardly had any need for a slow language without any kind of JIT and a basic GC.
- bb88 4y agoA decade or so ago there was an idea that "patterns" (Gang of Four) needed to exist because the underlying language (Java, etc) was limited in it's power or expressiveness. Go is opinionated, and much of that has hurt the language -- with the go loop semantics coming to mind. Instead of realizing their mistake early and fixing it back in 2009ish, they doubled down on it. Here in 2022, they finally opened it back up for discussion. https://github.com/golang/go/discussions/56010 https://github.com/golang/go/discussions/56010
- pjmlp 4y agoGang of Four book predates Java and has zero lines of code about it, since the language did not exist. All the examples are about Smalltalk and C++.
- skacanski 4y agoCorrect! This book has nothing to do w Java.
- nhainer 4y agoI was told by the publisher in 1984 that The Gang of Four was coming out of with a Java version of their book. So I contacted one of the authors, (who remain nameless) who almost ripped my head off when I told him what the publisher told me!