In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Quest Master <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Python *is* a scripting language. Why not just let your users write Python modules which you them import and execute via some defined API?So, my question is simply this: is there an implementation of another scripting language into Python?
I can think of a couple of reasons off the top of my head:
The OP doesn't mention his application, but there is something to be said about domain specific scripting languages. A well designed domain-specific scripting language(*) with the appropriate high level constructs can make script writing simpler.
There's also an audience factor. Python is easy to learn, but it's still a programming language. A well designed domain-specific scripting language(*) can make it very easy to get work done in a particular case without having to learn the Python mind frame. (How assignments work, mutable/immutable, Python's call passing system, etc.)
Python's also dangerous. Every time you do an "import module", you put your system at risk of crashing, having the hard-drive wiped, sending incorrect signal codes to peripherals, etc. A well-designed specialty language(*) minimizes those risks - don't need disk access? Don't allow it in your language.
There's also the valuable learning experience of designing and implementing a scripting language.
(*) Note that I keep saying "well-designed". A poorly designed scripting language is very bad - you can feel shackled by the restrictions it imposes, and find yourself unable to do what you want without laborious contortions, if at all. I also say "domain specific" because, at this time, there are enough general purpose scripting languages that you are likely to find what you need already existing, unless you are experimeting with a completely new programing paradigm.
To answer the OP's question:
Yes - sort of. Currently work is underway to implement the Python scripting language in Python. Cleverly called "PyPy", the website is "http://www.codespeak.net/pypy".
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