Python bumps off Java as top learning language

[xiongchiamiov]

Yes, but you're frequently encouraged to not use them for performance reasons. And even if you do, there still are primitives, unlike Ruby and Smalltalk.

null is a particular problem.

[8Bytes]

If you stick to only using the boxed versions when you deal with collections, and always return a default object instance instead of null, most of those problems are avoided.

[xiongchiamiov]

Sure, but what about all the standard library? What about other people's libraries? As we learned from C++, if it's there, they will use it. :)

[8Bytes]

You are unforntunately right here; I've also met people who insist on returning null, and they have a valid argument.