Python & Java: a Side-by-Side Comparison [LWN.net]

Stephen Ferg compares programmer productivity between Java and Python. " A programmer can be significantly more productive in Python than in Java. How much more productive? The most widely accepted estimate is 5-10 times. On the basis of my own personal experience with the two languages, I agree with this estimate. Managers who are considering adding Python to their organization's list of approved development tools, however, cannot afford to accept such reports uncritically. They need evidence, and some understanding of why programmers are making such claims. This page is for those managers."

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Python & Java: a Side-by-Side Comparison

Posted Aug 21, 2003 4:02 UTC (Thu) by dang (subscriber, #310) [Link]

This is really more "Why Python appeals to me" than anything else. Eh. Find the tools that fit your hands and fit the project, but don't mistake your hands and your projects for mine.

Python & Java: a Side-by-Side Comparison

Posted Aug 21, 2003 12:39 UTC (Thu) by zooko (subscriber, #2589) [Link]

<flamebait>Funny thing is, I don't know of any programmer who has seriously used Python -- as in written more than 5000 lines of code, or programmed in it on a daily basis for more than 3 months, or whatever -- who says that they prefer writing in Java.

If I ever hear someone saying that they prefer Java over Python, or if I ever hear someone complaining about Python's block syntax, I can bet with 95% certainty that the person hasn't actually used Python for more than a few dozen lines of code. </flamebait>

I'm sorry to post flamebait, but what the heck -- it's a beautiful, lazy, Thursday morning here in Toronto. Please flame me politely.

I guess part of the reason for this statistic is that almost every person who has to use Python is in that position because they want to use Python. I.e., they took a Python job, or the joined a Python open source project or whatever. As Python usage broadens, and people start being required to use it even when they weren't already a Python enthusiast, then it's "customer satisfaction" rate will surely drop from the current astounding level of "pretty much 100%".

Regards,

Zooko

Python & Java: a Side-by-Side Comparison

Posted Aug 22, 2003 16:30 UTC (Fri) by southey (subscriber, #9466) [Link]

I guess the author was using Cpython (Python written in C) rather than Jython (Python written in Java that can access Java code as well).

Most of the examples aren't really real differences. In python you are using builtin functions etc but the Java code is essentially written from scratch. If the author had reusable code or similar functionality then the article is nothing.