Re: Python (was Re: I did not inhale)

On 22/08/2024 09:42, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:

On Wed, 21 Aug 2024 21:15:14 +0200
David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> boringly babbled:

On 21/08/2024 17:40, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:

The problem with pyserial is you have to use Python. Horrible language
though like BASIC, useful for teaching kids to code.
>

>
Let's just say, opinions differ.  Python /can/ be used for beginner

 Yes, its ultimately subjective. The reasons I don't like it are that I can't
stand dynamic typing in supposed "proper" languages and the syntatically
meaningful whitespace nonsense they took from Occam really grinds my gears.
In my current job I'm forced to use it but I'd never do it out of choice.
 

Dynamic typing has its advantages and disadvantages.  You do lose a lot of human checking and static checking when you have dynamic typing, but you gain flexibility.  Have you tried using type annotations in Python? For some code it can give a reasonable compromise, letting you have at least some control of types while also being flexible where you want.
I am a big fan of clear and consistent layout and indentation, which is forced on you by Python (and Occam), but I too prefer explicit blocking.   It's harder to get things wrong with explicit blocking, and you are never faced with space vs. tab conflicts causing semantic changes to the code.

programmers - but it is also an excellent language for many real tasks.
Of course it has its weaknesses and disadvantages as well as its
strengths, and aspects that will appeal to some programmers and not others.

 IMO its fine for small scripts up to maybe a few hundred lines. Beyond that
no.
 

Oh, it's fine for /far/ bigger programs than that.  But it is excellent for small scripts and utilities.
Like any language, you need discipline and to work in a way that suits the language.  If you approach Python coding as though it were C, or vice versa, you'll make a mess.