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

On Fri, 16 Aug 2024, John Ames wrote:

On Fri, 16 Aug 2024 15:02:20 -0000 (UTC)
kalevi@kolttonen.fi (Kalevi Kolttonen) wrote:
>

You seem to have a point. The core of C language is also small. I
guess they even said in the original K & R book that C is a small
language best described by a small book.
>
But in order to do anything with C, you need to know the standard
libraries. They have grown bigger and bigger during all these
years. One could also well argue that to program on UNIX, you also
need to know all the POSIX libraries.

>
What you *need* is also very much dependent on what you need to *do.*
If all you're doing is batch-munging of files in some basic format,
f'rexample, you don't particularly need to delve into POSIX esoterica
or some whiz-bang Python bolt-on for frobbing the servos on a lunar
probe while generating novel text from cosmic background radiation; you
certainly can if you want to, but stdlib or the Python equivalent will
get you there just fine.
>

I have used bash for those use cases, and one benefit of that is that script from 10 or 15 years ago still work without any problems at all.