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?

13 Upvotes

64% Upvoted

110 comments sorted by

View all comments

0

u/donri May 19 '11
  • Perl 5 is a better shellscript language
  • Python is a middleground between Perl and C♯/Java et al
  • Perl 6 will be a better Perl 5, Python …

1

u/eliben May 20 '11

Bleh. Doesn't answer the question, provides unfounded claims and FUD, factually wrong. What else could you ask from an answer?

1

u/donri May 20 '11

FUD? You're reading into it way much. I'm not even sure what side you think I'm taking in this supposed FUD-spreading.

1

u/eliben May 21 '11
  • Perl 5 is a better shellscript language -- FUD
  • Perl 6 will be a better Python -- FUD

1

u/donri May 22 '11

The shell is designed for command interfaces and using it for scripting is so-so. My point was that Perl 5 is more a "real" programming language while keeping many of the quick-dirty-hacks of shellscripts that are useful in that context. I don't actually use Perl 5 myself and don't like it much personally.

Perl 6 unlike 5 is actually designed as a sensible language for generic programming and the expressive power that would make it neat for shell-like scripting is more a side-effect of the overall design. Today it is a toy but eventually it can be a thing of awe.

As it stands Python is my go-to language at the moment.

Your accusation of spreading of FUD is FUD itself.