Comments on: Dive Deep Into Python Vs Perl Debate – What Should I Learn Python or Perl?

By: winniny

winniny — Mon, 23 May 2022 06:36:03 +0000

I was put off by python’s exact indentation as a block requirement. I love the braces and they make for a clear block marking. It is hard for me to know which code block is aligned with which without exerting the extra effort of counting spaces (which is difficult to do if you don’t have characters immediately above and also don’t use fixed space font – another unnecessary requirement.)

I want to use a font that is easier on the eyes and saves my eyes from the extra unnecessary effort of counting spaces.

My codes are always clean with braces. I understand that it allows you to create messy blocks, but that is your problem, not the languages.

I don’t like Perl either, I think its syntax is twisted. It seems like whoever wrote Perl gets schadenfreude making things difficult and twisted at the expense of making them readable and clear or a very bad communicator or both.

How are you supposed to read print "hello0909there"=~/\d+/g

print hellow0909there equal tilde slash digit slash g and understand it to mean print the string after removing the digits? WTF.

By: JensE

JensE — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 20:50:23 +0000

After this long debate, I will say try to learn C and after mastering it, use whatever you please. ;o)

By: Bob Newell

Bob Newell — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 02:07:23 +0000

The code examples in places leave off the ; at the end of Perl statements.

Also, the Python examples don’t have proper indenting.

Not impressed.

By: JensE

JensE — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 12:36:28 +0000

In reply to simlev.

Easier to read, really?! They both need you to learn regex in the first place.

But even if it is easier to read you have to

1. Import the regex lib and
2. Those Python regexes are not even remotely as powerful as the Perl ones.

By: simlev

simlev — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 11:07:54 +0000

Python:

    print re.findall('\d+','hello0909there')

Perl:

    print "hello0909there"=~/\d+/g

The first is plain to read and understand, and there is probably just one way to make it right. The second is harder to read and error-prone, requiring some knowledge of what's going on. I find Perl more fun and interesting to write because it gives you so many ways to do things, each with its own subtle differences and implications. I feel more proud when I write a concise expression, where each character has been thought over than with writing code that tastes plain and foreseeable. On the other hand, I would prefer the latter if the code needed to be shared because I'd feel like I'd be pouring less of my personality into it.