1.7 How Does Python Stack Up to Language X?

Finally, in terms of what you may already know, people sometimes compare Python to languages such as Perl, Tcl, and Java. We talked about performance earlier, so here the focus is on functionality. While other languages are also useful tools to know and use, we think that Python:

• Is more powerful than Tcl. Python's support for "programming in the large" makes it applicable to larger systems development.

• Has a cleaner syntax and simpler design than Perl, which makes it more readable and maintainable, and helps reduce program bugs.

• Is simpler and easier to use than Java. Python is a scripting language, but Java inherits much of the complexity of systems languages such as C++.

• Is simpler and easier to use than C++, but often doesn't compete with C++ either; as a scripting language, Python often serves different roles.

• Is both more powerful and more cross-platform than Visual Basic. Its open source nature also means it is not controlled by a single company.

• Has the dynamic flavor of languages like SmallTalk and Lisp, but also has a simple, traditional syntax accessible to developers and end users.

Especially for programs that do more than scan text files, and that might have to be read in the future by others (or by you!), we think Python fits the bill better than any other scripting language available today. Furthermore, unless your application requires peak performance, Python is often a viable alternative to systems development languages such as C, C++, and Java; Python code will be much less to write, debug, and maintain.

Of course, both of the authors are card-carrying Python evangelists, so take these comments as you may. They do, however, reflect the common experience of many developers who have taken time to explore what Python has to offer.

And that concludes the hype portion of this book. The best way to judge a language is to see it in action, so the next two chapters turn to a strictly technical introduction to the language. There, we explore ways to run Python programs, peek at Python's byte code execution model, and introduce the basics of module files for saving your code. Our goal will be to give you just enough information to run the examples and exercises in the rest of the book. As mentioned earlier, you won't really start programming until Chapter 4, but make sure you have a handle on the startup details before moving on.