Like most computer users and many scientists I don't write scripts to organize or analyse my data unless I get desperate. I've used both Python and Perl a few years ago, but it would take quite a lot of time and effort and staring at on-line tutorials to get back into either of them right now. So I end up using massive Excel files that kind of work, but are a pain. I've noticed that quite a few structural biologists have the same problem.
I've never understood why there can't be a simple programming language that is completely self-explanatory bercause it uses English sentences. Our robot scripting language uses syntax like Dispense 0.5 * DropVol ul to TargetWells using ProteinSyringe That is pretty obvious. So why can't I have a language where I can write Carry_out_a_sequence_where x is 1 to 10 with_step_size 1 : if age of person(x) is_greater_than 50 then print name of person(x) "is an old man (or woman)" . Repeat_for_next x . ? I don't care if it's efficient (anything is efficient compared to Excel) or if it's easy to write big programs in. All I care about is that it's easy to get going. Later on I can learn to write simply "Sequence" instead of "Carry_out_a_sequence_where". I could click a button that would make the replacement to make my code more compact and readable to a trained eye. And of course is_greater_than could be written as > . Any intelligent school-child could understand it too, which would be fantastic here in the UK where kids aren't taught to program any more. Does such a language exist? On 13 September 2012 17:08, James Stroud <xtald...@gmail.com> wrote: > > On Sep 13, 2012, at 3:24 AM, Tim Gruene wrote: > > I have the impression that > python programmers spend a lot of effort in trying to convince others > that python is a "good" choice. Why bother rather than let people make > their own decision? > > > Someone asked. > > Plus, python programmers put no more effort than any other programmer. > It's just that python has more advocates (for good reason) so the apparent > effort is amplified. > > Don't hate us because our preferred programming language is beautiful. > > James > > -- > James Stroud > > http://www.jamesstroud.com > > -- patr...@douglas.co.uk Douglas Instruments Ltd. Douglas House, East Garston, Hungerford, Berkshire, RG17 7HD, UK Directors: Peter Baldock, Patrick Shaw Stewart http://www.douglas.co.uk Tel: 44 (0) 148-864-9090 US toll-free 1-877-225-2034 Regd. England 2177994, VAT Reg. GB 480 7371 36
