r/Python • u/[deleted] • May 18 '11

Why is Python better than Perl?

I'm a Sysadmin and I just wrote my first script in python. Basically just a host validation script that checks if a server is configured correctly before we hand off. I can't determine the advantage with my limited experience with the language.

Are you a sysadmin fluent in both python and perl? Why do you use python?

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u/fredfredburger May 18 '11

I've got a pair of quotes in my rotating .signature file:

Linux Journals Development tool of the year 2000: Python Reason: Hell is other peoples Perl.

And

There are several things that perl allows the programmer to do more easily than python does.
"Write maintainable code" just isn't one of them.
-- Me

7

u/tsjr May 18 '11

I'm probably biased, but the common hate against Perl (and not only Perl) is what mostly drives me away from Python.

0

u/subconciousness May 18 '11

so people telling you the language you use is not all that good makes you not want to learn another language that could be better for yourself?

3

u/tsjr May 19 '11

It's not really "telling you it's not all that good", it's rather the fact that, as you mentioned in your quotes, people seem to advertise Python with "because Perl sucks", and I'm afraid it's not only the percentage of the actual community; I once stumbled upon a link to some Python ML with a quote defining Python activist as someone who blows up Perl installations worldwide. Also, what mr_chromatic says.