Daniel Carrera wrote: > Hello, > > This might be a strange question to ask on a Haskell list, but I do want > to hear your opinions. What do you think of Python?
Its good for small scripting tasks. Its good for string processing. I find the dynamic typing a pain. > I have a lady friend who wants to learn how to program. I just decided > to teach her Python for practical reasons: Its a great first language for people who aren't interested in making a career of programming. > But I do hesitate. I would like to teach her Haskell because I think > it's a better language. Its a better language for people who either have a computer science background or intend to study computer science. I would not inflict a language like Haskell on someone who just wants to get the job done with as little fuss as possible. > So I'm thinking that perhaps I can use Python, but try to teach her > functional principles, like not changing the value of a variable and not > letting her functions have side-effects. For the majority of tasks she is likely to undertake, the above simply doesn't matter. > Given my circunstances, do you think that's a reasonable approach for > teaching her how to program? Teach her Python. If you try and teach her Haskell she will end up programming in visual basic :-). Erik -- +-----------------------------------------------------------+ Erik de Castro Lopo [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Yes it's valid) +-----------------------------------------------------------+ "It has been discovered that C++ provides a remarkable facility for concealing the trival details of a program -- such as where its bugs are." -- David Keppel _______________________________________________ Haskell-Cafe mailing list Haskell-Cafe@haskell.org http://www.haskell.org/mailman/listinfo/haskell-cafe
