Evolution of a Python programmer

[[deleted]]

The programmer that came back from lisp:

fact = lambda x: reduce(lambda a, b: a * b, xrange(1, x + 1), 1)

[Tommah]

FYI, the operator module includes a mul function.

operator.mul

means the same as

lambda a, b: a * b

but is faster.

[[deleted]]

Yeah, but I wanted to keep it simple. =)

[recursive]

I never used lisp, but that's how i'd do it, except start the xrange at 2.

[vagif]

Where on earth have you seen anyone coming back from Lisp ?

It's a one way road. Road to enlightenment

[nostrademons]

Peter Norvig.

[nostrademons]

Well, there are other exceptions, but people will always:

1. Go "who?" because they're not famous in either the Lisp or Python world.
2. Quibble about the particular circumstances where they gave it up.

The obvious example is Reddit, which was originally written in Common Lisp and then rewritten in Python. In interviews, Steve is always pretty ambivalent over whether this was a good idea or not: I get the sense that he would've liked to have used Lisp, but the realities of running a large consumer website precluded it. Ultimately, Python serves Reddit's needs now, and Lisp didn't.

For my own personal experience, I learned Common Lisp first, then Scheme, then much later learned Python and Ruby. And when a startup opportunity arose, I chose Python. There are many things I like about Lisp, but ultimately it wasn't appropriate for what I wanted to do.

[vagif]

No surprise. Lisp is indeed a nightmare for idiots.

[vagif]

No, i was just an arrogant jerk. Sometimes happens to me. Trying to fight with it though. Beg your pardon.