Choice of scripting langage: towards Web2.0?

[Jonathon Suggs]

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 ;)