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I've been writing Python for maybe 3 months now and as I started digging into the OO stuff, I commented to a few developers about how it 'felt' a lot like javas

by 198d 15y ago

I've been writing Python for maybe 3 months now and as I started digging into the OO stuff, I commented to a few developers about how it 'felt' a lot like javascript and they nearly took my head off. Is there any material you (or anyone for that matter) can point me to that might help solidify my argument?

tantalor 15y ago
Can you elaborate? Honestly I think the differences far outweigh the similarities. One case that comes to mind is how each language implements (what I call) the continuation pattern. Suppose you want to iterate over the vertices of a binary tree. In JavaScript, you would accept a callback parameter which you call with each vertex. In Python, you would yield each vertex to the caller. These are very different styles and lead you in different directions.
natedub 15y ago
Ian Bicking gave a talk on the similarities and differences between Python and Javascript that might be helpful, but it's pretty high level: http://blip.tv/pycon-us-videos-2009-2010-2011/pycon-2011-javascript-for-people-who-know-python-4900851 http://blip.tv/pycon-us-videos-2009-2010-2011/pycon-2011-jav... The key similarities in my mind are: 1) In both python and javascript, the class and prototype are exposed and can be called explicitly if desired: MyClass.method(my_instance, arg1, arg2) MyClass.prototype.method.call(my_instance, arg1, arg2); 2) Python will automatically bind methods when you retrive them from an instance. Unless you explicitly bind a function in JS, the "this" parameter is specified at call time: whatever comes before the dot is used as "this". Ultimately they're both first class objects and the difference to the developer is notation: bound_method = my_instance.method bound_method = my_instance.method.bind(my_instance); 3) Attribute lookups in Python behave very similarly to property lookups in Javascript. Python has a modified resolution order for searching for an attribute through its list of parent classes. Javascript will look for an attribute in a series of prototypes (since in JS, an instance's prototype is just an object, so it too can have a prototype). Python is superior here because it supports multiple inheritance, but overall the resolution behaviour is essentially the same. Can anyone think of any other common ground?
deleted 15y ago
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by 198d 15y ago

tantalor 15y ago

Can you elaborate? Honestly I think the differences far outweigh the similarities. One case that comes to mind is how each language implements (what I call) the continuation pattern. Suppose you want to iterate over the vertices of a binary tree. In JavaScript, you would accept a callback parameter which you call with each vertex. In Python, you would yield each vertex to the caller. These are very different styles and lead you in different directions.

natedub 15y ago

Ian Bicking gave a talk on the similarities and differences between Python and Javascript that might be helpful, but it's pretty high level: http://blip.tv/pycon-us-videos-2009-2010-2011/pycon-2011-javascript-for-people-who-know-python-4900851 http://blip.tv/pycon-us-videos-2009-2010-2011/pycon-2011-jav... The key similarities in my mind are: 1) In both python and javascript, the class and prototype are exposed and can be called explicitly if desired: MyClass.method(my_instance, arg1, arg2) MyClass.prototype.method.call(my_instance, arg1, arg2); 2) Python will automatically bind methods when you retrive them from an instance. Unless you explicitly bind a function in JS, the "this" parameter is specified at call time: whatever comes before the dot is used as "this". Ultimately they're both first class objects and the difference to the developer is notation: bound_method = my_instance.method bound_method = my_instance.method.bind(my_instance); 3) Attribute lookups in Python behave very similarly to property lookups in Javascript. Python has a modified resolution order for searching for an attribute through its list of parent classes. Javascript will look for an attribute in a series of prototypes (since in JS, an instance's prototype is just an object, so it too can have a prototype). Python is superior here because it supports multiple inheritance, but overall the resolution behaviour is essentially the same. Can anyone think of any other common ground?

deleted 15y ago

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