Python or Lua?

[Jimmyh]

If you had a choice, would you prefer Python or Lua as a scripting language?

 

[The_J]

I'd prefer the language in which i'm better .
Don't know anything about Lua, so i'd choose Python, but there's no "design" reason behind it.

 

[PPQ_Purple]

Having worked with both I say python. It's much closer to C in terms of how it is phrased and stuff. But than again, if I had a proper choice I would go with C++ and spare me the whole coding thing. Dam it thou, I would be happy even if they just added {} to python.

 

[strategyonly]

Yeah, i'd have to agree with the above statement.

 

[Baldyr]

I think that the best thing about Python is the lack of those butt-ugly curly-branches...

Other than that I agree totally with The_Js post.

 

[PPQ_Purple]

Trust me, they make life so much easier for you. In C the {} act as the only separator thus you don't need to worry about indentation. Just imagine, newer having to dig through your code for hours only to realize in frustration that your error is not in logic or in syntax but in forgetting the proper spacing. Things like that make me want to rage quit and throw my monitor out my window.

 

[Baldyr]

I use the default Python GUI and it tells me when I mess up my syntax. Like indentation.

I'm honestly not having any issues with indentation in Python. It makes the code readable.

Once I get into C++ programming my first project will probably be to code a editor/converter that allows me to use Python-type indentation and never use a curly branch, ever.

 

[PPQ_Purple]

A real programmer only uses notepad. Anything else is cheating.

 

[Baldyr]

Well, I'm not any kind of a programmer really, so I don't worry about it.

The issue of course boils down to what you're used to. I'm used to the indentation and anything else will just seem alien to me. This is true to anything that comes with Python syntax. That is simply how it should look, to me.

 

[Asaf]

A real programmer only uses notepad. Anything else is cheating.

(Source: XKCD)

I hope anyone else will also find it funny...

With regards to Python vs. Lua (and I'm only talking about using it in games, not as a stand alone scripting language) - I have zero experience with Lua (only read about it), but it's much more light weight than Python, so you can make more calls to the script from the engine without hurting performance. I think that's something to consider.

 

[PPQ_Purple]

I know of that comic. And yes, I agree it is funny.

 

[embryodead]

Seems I'm the only one who answered either, though I'd actually go with Python right now since the last time I've used Lua was like 5 years ago doing UI mods for WoW.

Trust me, they make life so much easier for you. In C the {} act as the only separator thus you don't need to worry about indentation. Just imagine, newer having to dig through your code for hours only to realize in frustration that your error is not in logic or in syntax but in forgetting the proper spacing. Things like that make me want to rage quit and throw my monitor out my window.

Objection! I've used 10+ languages, all having {} or begin/end, with semicolons on top, or end, rather, plus other stuff like extra () in conditionals... believe me, whenever I had to type them I was thinking why on earth they make me type all this unnecessary crap. People would consider them absolutely necessary for all kinds of reasons, yet python just has right, works fine without them and the syntax is most readable of all languages I know. No problems with spacing either, and I only use npp with whitespace shown. I often work with PHP right now, raging that I can't use python instead whenever I miss the stupid parenthese.

For that matter if I was to do hobby stuff only with C++ or as any other not-so-high level language instead of a scripting one, I'd be cutting my wrists (I'm no real programmer though).

 

[The_J]

I often work with PHP right now, raging that I can't use python instead whenever I miss the stupid parenthese.

Why can't you use python?
If it's due to project requirements, then it's sad , else, if you are free in the language choice, i suggest that you google "PyJamas" (Python to Javascript cross compiler).

 

[embryodead]

Why can't you use python?
If it's due to project requirements, then it's sad , else, if you are free in the language choice, i suggest that you google "PyJamas" (Python to Javascript cross compiler).

Well, I would be looking more into something like django, but usually it's not up to me, and even if it is, I wouldn't force a python solution for a standard website or shop, which is my domain unfortunately. Less documentation and ready solutions, more work. That, I know PHP & its frameworks better, I just wish it had some of Python's syntax and flow.

 

[PPQ_Purple]

Objection! I've used 10+ languages, all having {} or begin/end, with semicolons on top, or end, rather, plus other stuff like extra () in conditionals... believe me, whenever I had to type them I was thinking why on earth they make me type all this unnecessary crap. People would consider them absolutely necessary for all kinds of reasons, yet python just has right, works fine without them and the syntax is most readable of all languages I know. No problems with spacing either, and I only use npp with whitespace shown. I often work with PHP right now, raging that I can't use python instead whenever I miss the stupid parenthese.

Do you also omit all sorts of symbols when you type out your posts and essays?
It's the same thing here. The idea behind them is not only that you your self but that others as well can read your text clearly.

Once you get used to them the symbols make perfect sense. {} make sure you don't have to care about indentation or anything else. And better yet when ever anyone else looks at your code he does not even have to know anything about the program in question but he can still easily see what belongs where.

It's the same with the rest of the symbols. They exist to make the program appear ordered and neat so that any reader can understand it.


Also on that note do you ever comment the code in your programing? Becouse I have been programing for 8 years now and the first thing they drill into your head is "comment everything".

 

[The_J]

It's the same with the rest of the symbols. They exist to make the program appear ordered and neat so that any reader can understand it.

And indentation doesn't help there ?


I have to say i like indenting the stuff.
I'm a lazy bastard. Normally i never indent anything, unless i've lost the overview (so...soon). So i love that i'm forced to do it in python, it makes my programming cleaner and faster (imho).

Also on that note do you ever comment the code in your programing? Becouse I have been programing for 8 years now and the first thing they drill into your head is "comment everything".

I love that you did not write "and i always do it" .
I comment when my code is working, cleaned up, and i have some free time before coding the next thing...so...nearly never .

 

[embryodead]

Do you also omit all sorts of symbols when you type out your posts and essays?

No, but if it was for programming, I'd choose English over Polish any day, for the former has a fraction of grammatical rules, morphology and exceptions of the latter, and a few less symbols too.

It's the same thing here. The idea behind them is not only that you your self but that others as well can read your text clearly.

Once you get used to them the symbols make perfect sense. {} make sure you don't have to care about indentation or anything else. And better yet when ever anyone else looks at your code he does not even have to know anything about the program in question but he can still easily see what belongs where.

It's the same with the rest of the symbols. They exist to make the program appear ordered and neat so that any reader can understand it.

I completely agree with your sentiments which is why I like Python... its syntax promotes/enforces human-readable, clear and concise code through indentation and very efficient, English-like syntax. I'm sure there's quite of lot discussions like this one

Also on that note do you ever comment the code in your programing? Becouse I have been programing for 8 years now and the first thing they drill into your head is "comment everything".

Ever - yes, everything - no. Effort depends on the subject.