Python will make you write nice code. I call bull on this one. Sure you'll have to indent your loops so they work but that won't make you write nice code. I have a hefty slab of absolutely unreadable UI code sitting in a repository on a university server to prove it.

Indeed. I'm still surprised by how many folks, who don't know either language particularly well, claim that "Python is more readable", or that "Perl looks like line noise" -- to which, I normally reply that Russian is "unreadable" if you don't know Russian.

I sometimes further challenge folks who claim magical code readability powers for Python, to please explain how using Python ensures that they:

• Make sound domain abstractions.
• Decompose their programs wisely into highly cohesive, loosely coupled modules.
• Choose descriptive, explanatory, consistent and regular names.
• Write useful comments.
• Minimize the exposure of implementation details.
• Avoid duplication (DRY).
• Don't use magic numbers in their code.
• Create interfaces that are: consistent; easy to use correctly; hard to use incorrectly; easy to read, maintain and extend; clearly documented; appropriate to audience.
• Write components that are testable in isolation.
• Establish a rational error handling policy and follow it strictly.

That is, far more important than "readability" is "maintainability", so that programmers who know the language can come to the code later in its life and understand its construction and intentions and change it comfortably and confidently.

See also: list of similar Perl v Python questions

Update: See also a later, more comprehensive version of this reply at: Re: Some Help for a Report About Perl (Readability vs Maintainability References)

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