On Mon, Jun 03, 2002 at 09:49:59PM -0600, Rob Nagler wrote: > Another concern I have about Template Toolkit (and other template > languages) is that it has its own syntax and semantics for data and > control structures distinct from Perl. Why isn't Perl good enough?
Because Perl is a general purpose programming language. TT implements a general purpose presentation language. A different kettle of fish altogether. It's like asking why XML has different syntax and semantics from Perl. > This is what Template Toolkit has become imo, and so the > argument about template languages being "easier than Perl" is > specious. Rather, they become harder, because you have to think in > two languages instead of one. Perhaps, but I personally don't have any trouble switching between numerous different domain specific languages. In the last hour, for example, I've been using these: Perl Perl regular expressions SQL XML Javascript Template Toolkit I find it easier to have a little language which is tailored to the task at hand. The problem comes when you try and grow your little language into a general purpose programming language. I've tried to resist that temptation in TT, but I readily admit that feature creep is a common trait in such systems. A
