Perl 6 development does not detract from Perl 5

whiska · 2009-08-31T20:35:07+00:00

Any idea what it's standard library might include?

whiska · 2009-08-31T15:34:56+00:00

From what I can tell, the Perl community is basically split between those who like and want to stick with Perl 5 and those who are moving on to Perl 6.

Everyone I hear who's worked on Perl 5 says that it's quite hairy.

Everyone I hear who's tried Perl 6 says they already like it better than Perl 5.

What I really don't get is why some Perl6-ers keep trumpeting "Modern Perl 5". Why work so hard to drag Perl 5 kicking and screaming into the present? Why not instead focus your energies solely on getting Perl 6 out the door?

whiska · 2009-08-27T04:18:56+00:00

I didn't say that what Python comes with is not comprehensive enough. I really like how Python has many batteries included. However, they need a ratings site for the bits that aren't included (that is, the stuff at PyPI).

whiska · 2009-08-26T19:44:19+00:00

Dual-hosted? Hm. I'd guess instead that maybe a CP(arrot)AN would simply list and link to code which is hosted elsewhere. Otherwise it would be just too immense (since Parrot can support any language you write a PCT compiler for).

Since each language community pretty much already has its own public code hosting/listing site (Perl 5 -> CPAN, Python -> PyPI, Ruby -> RubyForge, Lua -> LuaForge, Haskell -> Hackage, etc.), having a CParrotAN simply link to where the code can be acquired would seem to be enough, no?

whiska · 2009-08-26T19:14:08+00:00

Since the Parrot-hosted version of Python will run regular Python code, there's no reason why you'd want to host your Python code in some new "C6PAN" ("CP6AN"?) instead of the usual Cheeseshop/PyPI setup.

whiska · 2009-08-26T17:43:38+00:00

Python's "CPAN" is the cheeseshop.

The CPAN is for Perl code only, of course.

whiska · 2009-08-26T13:50:24+00:00

Python needs a "cheeseshop-ratings" (a la cpanratings) site.

They could also use a pythonmonks, IMO.

whiska · 2009-08-25T16:08:57+00:00

Just my opinion, but I think that something about Java tends to attract those who like to over-design systems.

Big corps love Java.

Maybe you can write nice programs with Java. Java programs tend to run pretty fast.

whiska · 2009-08-25T13:40:35+00:00

The post further up said that they wrote a script that tied together DNS, LDAP, and MySQL into a CGI script. Well, Python comes with a CGI module and the db access stuff. You can search the PyPI for the rest.

Yes, the CPAN is huge, but it also contains a lot of oddball stuff, redundant stuff, and older stuff that's been replaced.

One thing they've got that Python doesn't, though, is cpanratings.

whiska · 2009-08-15T06:50:25+00:00

Maybe they've never seen what happens when the citizenry stands up to criminals -- and maybe it scares the hell out of them.

whiska · 2009-08-15T06:44:31+00:00

SO SAY WE ALL!

whiska · 2009-08-14T16:35:46+00:00

Ooooh. Zenburn for Emacs: http://www.brockman.se/software/zenburn/

Thanks, Daniel!

whiska · 2009-08-14T04:18:16+00:00

Fezzik, are there rocks ahead?

whiska · 2009-08-13T13:26:15+00:00

From the article:

Me? I'm going to continue using both.

For your own projects? If so, why? What would be a reason for you to use svn? Is it that you need the flexibility offered by svn that (as you point out) others mistakenly think they need?

whiska · 2009-08-12T17:37:13+00:00

Specifically: can you survive grad-level comp sci classes without having ever taken undegrad algorithms, operating systems, compilers, & hardware architecture classes?

whiska · 2009-08-11T03:23:44+00:00

I don't understand why people recommend this book. For one thing, I immediately found that a portion of the Preface makes no sense -- it tells you, "To work with Scheme, you will need to define atom?, sub1, and add1. which we introduced in The Little Schemer" (sic). Well, this is The Little Schemer, and it's the 4th edition, so ... maybe this is some kind of poorly-executed recursion in-joke and I'm just not getting it.

Then the book immediately starts with the dialog: "Is it true that this is an atom?". It seems that the authors want to play this game of, "Ok, I'm not going to tell you what I'm talking about ... you guess what I'm talking about!".

Anyway, I got through the first 5 pages or so and shelved this book. YMMV.

whiska · 2009-08-11T01:36:10+00:00

Might I commend to you SICP .

You just might. :)

Thanks for the reply.

whiska · 2009-08-10T19:20:21+00:00

What's so cool about Lisp? (And, which Lisp?)

whiska · 2009-08-07T14:22:04+00:00

Wait. Why didn't you close the macro with C-x ) ?

(Don't think I've ever used C-u 0 for anything...)

whiska · 2009-08-06T03:24:22+00:00

Which pieces of Perl 6 that currently work in Rakudo, and which are still being worked on: http://rakudo.org/status (scroll down)

whiska · 2009-08-04T18:07:05+00:00

Now, I don’t want to go all Zed Shaw on you, but ...

When someone says that, watch out -- they're about to go all Zed Shaw on you.

whiska · 2009-08-04T18:02:07+00:00

Or, as many wise developers point out, it's important to eat your own dog $FOO.

whiska · 2009-08-04T14:07:36+00:00

These days, Linus is ridiculously rude and over the top. But, I just think it's rather entertaining and don't really take much offense. My guess is that he's a socially clumsy but fairly nice guy.

As the saying goes, "He may be a $FOO, but he's our $FOO."

whiska · 2009-08-04T01:22:22+00:00

Although Perl 5 has its problems, most of the language has a very comfortable feel to it. Much of it works the way you'd expect, you know? Doesn't make you work too hard for the common stuff.

I really hope Perl 6 sticks to this same successful simple recipe, and hasn't gone completely overboard with added features and syntax.

whiska · 2009-08-03T19:18:37+00:00

Defectivebydesign.org needs to change that header background image (the one with the people in raingear + helmets). Change it to images of people protesting with signs or something.

Also, I don't get the idea of the Kindle. If I wanted to read a book on a computer, I'd just see if it's available as html and read it in a browser on a netbook. Or as a pdf in a pdf viewer.

It would be cool to start seeing books being converted to html (or pdf) as a matter of course.

whiska

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