Andrew Turner wrote:
For a dynamic scripting language that would be best served to consume
web resources and already tie into a big development community there
are two primary choices: Python and Ruby.
Python has had incredible support and impact on Nokia mobiles with
Py60 (see Nokia's Py60 extensions to device access:
http://wiki.opensource.nokia.com/projects/PyS60_extensions), and Maemo
(N800) Python/Hildon bindings for building 'native' applications.
Ruby has a growing community, but hasn't yet gotten good support on
mobile devices. There are some potential projects for building Ruby
bindings on Maemo that will be very useful. So could look at it either
that Ruby doesn't have a big mobile community contingent so why
bother, or that the community really *wants* a Ruby mobile so would
jump on the chance.
Both languages have excellent networking libraries/frameworks, so this
really isn't a concern.
Really, both languages could be supported in tandem and in fact build
on one another's work/efforts. And you wouldn't really be dividing
effort since the two communities are both strong in their own right,
and so would support their framework.
Andrew
Out of those two, I vote Python. The only reasons are that I "feel" as
though Python has better supporting libraries (and community) and I also
prefer its syntax.
That said, I still think we should consider perl. People say that it is
losing support, but I "feel" as though that is propaganda from the other
languages. I don't think it is even a close comparison when you look at
the number of supporting libraries compared to just about any other
language.
However, I do feel perl is at a crossroads. It isn't the "cool"
language anymore (python and ruby currently take that crown). So you
have a lot of older gurus that could do just about anything with it, but
who may not be willing to learn a new language. Then you have new
developers that are just learning the "in" languages (ie python and
ruby). So you kinda have a clash of cultures. Me, I'm still pretty
young but learned perl straight out of college and I love it as it is
just so powerful and there are libraries to do just about anything you
can imagine.
All that to say, lets at least consider putting perl back into the
conversation. I'm not going to be disappointed or upset with just about
any decision, but I wanted to throw this out before it was too late.
I'm not too old to learn a new language ;)
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