Post #528481
2025-08-18 13:06 UTC
Replies (2)
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@tyler@programming.dev 2025-08-18 15:06
This result reaffirms that Python is a great language for those early in their career. This is a really bad conclusion to come to. In my experience (teaching others), Python is one of the worst starting languages because it differs so much from other languages. I’m helping teach someone right now and whitespace being significant has poisoned their mind against all white space. They think it matters in function parameter lists, before and after quotes, etc. This knowledge isn’t transferable, thus the large portion of people that only use Python (indicated in the survey). But if they are like most medium to large businesses, this is an incredible waste of cloud compute expense (which also maps to environmental harm via spent energy). I mean… come on. If you’re pulling that card then stop using Python all together. You said it yourself (talking to the author here), 50% of Python is ML. The largest user of energy on the planet. The productive delta between those using it and those who avoid it is simply too great (estimated at about 30% greater productivity with AI). Hasn’t this been proven wrong like….numerous times now? There’s actually a productivity decrease since you’re constantly correcting an AI. It’s essentially like getting an intern. All your energy is spent helping the intern. I’m not going to comment on the venv/uv stuff… I understand I’m in a Python community complaining about a post about Python, I’m sure to get downvoted, but I’ve literally taught numerous people or tutored them when they’re trying to learn Python and every time my conclusion is that earth needs to stop using Python so much. Especially for newbies.
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@jamiet@hachyderm.io 2025-08-21 04:43
@wsvincent @ThePSF @jetbrains @mkennedy Great post Michael. I respectfully disagree with the implication that if you’re processing data then you’re doing data science. I work on a data processing pipeline that takes data as input, enriches it from other sources, and outputs it for downstream processing. It’s integral to the delivery of millions of meals per year to people’s front door. I don’t consider myself to be a data scientist though, I’m a data engineer. Or what used to be called an ETL Developer when I was young.