Re: Meditating on Perl, Python and the Semantic Web

Scholars tend to prefer Python because it is (seems?) more monolithical and orthogonal whereas Perl is more a fusion of different well known languages and concepts.

It's like comparing a lego robotą versa Frankenstein's creature˛...

And scientist brains are - for good reasons - trained to think lego, they have problems to cherish organic approaches like sewing Sed legs, Bash torso and C arms together.

So whats missing is a "lego interface" for Perl to convince this groupł ... ;-)

Cheers Rolf

(1) Batteries included
(2) Baron Larry Frankenstein is Victors grandson... ;-)
(3) activated with use super::extra::hyper::strict; or use oneandonlyoneway; or simply use anal;

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Re^2: Meditating on Perl, Python and the Semantic Web by llancet (Friar) on Dec 20, 2009 at 02:19 UTC
Actually not correct. At least, perl is widely used in bioinformatics.	[reply]
Re^3: Meditating on Perl, Python and the Semantic Web by LanX (Saint) on Dec 20, 2009 at 03:06 UTC
Actually I said "tend to prefer"... Cheers Rolf UPDATE: Guess which other language is also very strong in bioinformatics ...	[reply]
Re^4: Meditating on Perl, Python and the Semantic Web by girarde (Hermit) on Dec 29, 2009 at 23:00 UTC
I've been seeing a lot of questions the last couple of months that are very obviously in support of DNA sequencing.	[reply]
Re^2: Meditating on Perl, Python and the Semantic Web by The Perlman (Scribe) on Dec 21, 2009 at 14:12 UTC
Master! May I introduce my bride Ruby, to you ? ;-)	[reply]
Re^3: Meditating on Perl, Python and the Semantic Web by ack (Deacon) on Dec 30, 2009 at 03:01 UTC
Hmmm...I've been curious about your "bride" for some time. But I have yet to give her the due consideration that she commands. She seems to crop up everywhere around me...and I know not why. I guess the muses have yet to kiss me regarding that siren. Your response urges me, perhaps, to reconsider. ack Albuquerque, NM	[reply]
Re^2: Meditating on Perl, Python and the Semantic Web by ack (Deacon) on Dec 30, 2009 at 02:58 UTC
llancet makes a good point but curiously, I think you do, too. I actually began my study of Perl using O'Reilly's bioinformatics book...before turning to the O'Reilly's "Learning Perl". Even though I turned to "Learning Perl" as my preferred "tutor", working my way throught the bioinformatics book was both instructive adn acutally built a passion in me for Perl that I might not have found othewise. It appealed to the "scientist" in me in a way that I can't describe...not that I'm a "scientist". On the other hand, thinking to your comment, LanX, I have to say that I see a very, very strong tendancy (at least at the National Labs) to gravitate to Python. I have talked to a few of their scientists and they tend to agree with you...somehow Python resonates with them more than Perl (though only one or two can claim any real familiarity with Perl...so maybe that points to some bias of unfamiliarity rather than anything really to do with the languages). One thing that stikes me as curious is that there seems to be an opinion amongst those that I've talked to, to reinforce what I've seen in "Programming the Semantic Web" and "Programming Collective Intelligence"...an assertion that Python is "more easy to read...is more 'understandable' that other languages like Perl. I find that curious...maybe because I'm biased towards Perl...as I find Python to be fairly obtuse and anything but "more 'understandable'". But that's just my opinion. Thanks for your feedback...and for the feedback from the other responders to your thread. ack Albuquerque, NM	[reply]