Replacing AWK with Python in GCC? [LWN.net]

Replacing AWK with Python in GCC?

Posted Jul 25, 2018 18:55 UTC (Wed) by smoogen (subscriber, #97)
In reply to: Replacing AWK with Python in GCC? by nirbheek
Parent article: Replacing AWK with Python in GCC?

I have the same reaction too, but have come to realize it is basic human things. It is no different with auto mechanics, building houses, or the various sciences. Everyone has grumbled about getting deionized water into the labs, but done nothing about it. Then when someone comes up with a pipe system, every chemist is now a plumbing expert and complain that their preferred method wasn't used. They all think they are helping make things better but it is as much about humans being hard wired to keep status quo for safety as it is "well maybe my idea I have been sitting on for 20 years could get done since you are actually going to do something about it."

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Replacing AWK with Python in GCC?

Posted Jul 26, 2018 4:45 UTC (Thu) by marcH (subscriber, #57642) [Link] (2 responses)

> It is no different with auto mechanics, building houses, or the various sciences.

Software and especially software maintenance is unlike any other kind. It is very different.

Replacing AWK with Python in GCC?

Posted Jul 30, 2018 7:08 UTC (Mon) by Rudd-O (guest, #61155) [Link] (1 responses)

It isn't at all different in the sense that people suddenly become "experts" when their cheese is moved.

Replacing AWK with Python in GCC?

Posted Aug 2, 2018 22:38 UTC (Thu) by Wol (subscriber, #4433) [Link]

Actually, it isn't different at all.

If you let the engineers do things properly, it's a simple job. If you let people with no clue (like the beancounters and marketeers) interfere, then things get messy.

Sadly, it's usually the beancounters and marketeers that hold the purse-strings, so it gets done their way or - more usually - not at all (meanwhile promising customers "it's coming - it really is - it'll be here real soon now").

Cheers,
Wol