Letter from my boss

[Steven Hildreth]

Kylix/Delphi was not seen as a "cost effective" solution, being a
commercial product and costing more than the "open source" options. It
did not seem to have the community support (available tools, modules and
plugins) that seem to abound for the likes of Java, Perl or Python.

I was asked how I arrived at Python for our development, and so I
stated. Realizing it would most likely start a religious debate on which
language is better than the other for whatever reason.

For our needs Python seemed to fit the best, not stating nor implying
Python is better a mousetrap than any other.

Just my reasons on how Python was chosen for my companies needs, not why
everyone should choose. My best advice is to sit down and actually
develop a mid size application (full life cycle) with the development
arena you have interest in and see how difficult it gets.

Regards,
Steven

On Mon, 2002-02-25 at 09:19, Brian Densmore wrote:
> > When I began to look for a programming environment that would 
> > solve our
> > cross-platform issue, allow for rapid development and be cost 
> > effective
> > I looked at several different options: Perl, PHP, Python, VB, C#, C,
> > C++, Visual C, Java, Kylix/Delphi and FoxPro.
> > 
> > ... I could eliminate a couple (namely MS based) of options right 
> > off the bat:
> > VB, FoxPro and C#.
> > 
> > Seeing that PHP ... it did not seem like a good
> >
> > application environment ...
> > ... The complexity
> > of C (and its variants), ...
> >
> > Clarity and brevity is not the strong suit of Perl, ...
> > 
> > The choice came down to Java and Python. One of Java's 
> > downfalls was the ...
> >
> > Python could use wxPython, tkinter, pyGTK to be able to easily choose
> > the GUI appearance. Agreed that wxPython is really the best cross
> > platform solution for GUI development with Python - but the point is
> > there are other options other than the standard Java interface. Java
> > also has a pretty mean acclamation period, remember we are talking VB
> > programmers that have been diluted into thinking VB apps is 
> > programming.
> Not to bicker, but VB may be considered a toy programming language, but
> it
> can be used to build sophisticated and complex programs. Yes, it is a
> programming 
> language. No it doesn't have the power of C. Yes it has a lots of
> problems. So
> does COBOL, and no one calls it "not real programming".
> > 
> So what was wrong with Kylix/Delphi? It should be a very simple
> transform
> from a VB to Delphi work environment (not codewise; just look and feel,
> etc.). 
> Albeit costly on the M$ O$ side.
> Or perhaps an integrated solution of Kylix/Delphi and Python. 
> 
> After all VB does actually compile now and can run 
> quite fast when efficiently coded.
> 
> Just curious,
> Brian
> 
> > Python fit the bill for all of our needs:
> > 	* RAD
> >  	* Having unquestionable clarity (no Brackets or Squiggles, Yea!)
> > 	* Brief in syntax 
> > 	* Cross platform (there are currently 13 platforms for Python)
> > 	* Complete open source (no corporation driving the train)
> > 	* Large Module library available (why re-invent the wheel?)
> > 	* Quick learning (within several hours I was coding in Python)
> > 
> > The point that Python has issues is unquestionable, IMHO they are:
> > 	* No native compilation (byte code then interpreted)
> > 	* Perceived as a "scripting" language (versus an application)
> > 	* Stupid looking logo (www.python.org)
> > 
> 
> 

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