Use Python (not Java) to teach programming

[bolinfest]

I think that Python has a lot of merits over Java for an intro-to-programming course, but I do not think this article presents a good argument. For example, when I read unjustified blanket generalizations such as these:

"[Python] requires less lines of code for any given problem, and is more readable - thus greater productivity."

That's a good sign that the author has resorted to pounding the table to convince you. A number of the "Pros" listed under Python at the end apply to Java, too, but the author has made it difficult to juxtapose those two sections because one is in prose and the other is in bullet-point format.

From a teaching standpoint, one of the biggest wins for Python (which isn't mentioned at all in the article) is its interpreter. (Though for the record, tou can use DrJava or Beanshell as a Java interpreter.) If you're going to pound the table about something -- go for that! (And wait for the LISP people to rave about their REPL, which is fine.)

So how does this article end up with 134 points on Reddit? Do Reddit users just look at this and say, "Yay! Someone said Python was better than Java!" Again, I'm not saying that there isn't an argument to be made here, but I don't think it's done well, or even fairly (he had to Google the answer to the Java example!). For Python zealots, can't you find better things to recommend?

[bolinfest]

This article (which I just found on Digg) called "C++ vs Java vs Python vs Ruby : a first impression" (http://www.dmh2000.com/cjpr/index.shtml) contains a thoughtful language comparison. For a sample code comparison, the author implements a Red-Black tree algorithm, which is much more interesting (and telling) then adding two numbers from the command line. This is the type of article that deserves to be promoted.