On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 05:54:05 -0800, Paul Rubin wrote: > Bulba! <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >> OK, so what projects and why would you consider Python: >> >> 1. "clearly unsuitable" > > An OS kernel, a high-performance signal processing application like a > video encoder, or maybe a compact embedded application for an 8-bit > microcontroller.
Of course, but those are not areas where I'd consider any high-level language appropriate. C, Forth and Assembler rule where every last bit counts, and they will continue to do so. Exceptions like Lisp Machines are however something to hope for. Note that you could do the microcontroller project > with JavaCard. (Yeah, you could maybe write the outer shell of the > high-performance app in Python, but I mean the part doing the real work.) Hmm, didn't know about JavaCard, but I'd guess without bothering to look that, like Java's Micro Edition, this features a restricted subset of Java... Python definitely cannot do that now, but the PyPy future may (hopefully) change that. And at least Python's beginning to try to encroach in the very heavily Java-dominated mobile phone software market... > >> 2. "plausible but there are sound technical reasons to be wary" > > A security-critical financial application. Why, specifically? Would you need to eval user input? > >> BTW, I don't think I agree with your statement elsewhere about unit >> tests - if you write a prototype (in any language), why bother with >> unit tests, and if you write security-critical app, maybe the tests >> should be written anyway (again, whatever is the language chosen for >> a project). > > You should write unit tests either way, but in Python you're relying > on the tests to find stuff that the compiler finds for you with Java. > > I'm also not too impressed with Python's bundled debugging features, > as compared with gcc/gdb. People have said nice things about some of > the commercial Python environments but I haven't used those. I haven't used those either (well, I looked at some, but I generally feel better at home in Emacs or even Idle than some glitzy IDE), but I find Python's debugging facilities completely sufficient, especially since I nearly never use them ;-) The interactive environment and unit testing are just great for whatever I've needed so far. But then I haven't used Python in a really *large* project yet, either. -- Christopher In theory, I'm in love with Lisp, but I hop into bed with Python every chance I get. -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
