Python Retrospective in light of IronPython
I’m somewhat taken aback by the news out of Redmond about IronPython. They are now distributing their own flavor Python that is tuned to work with their bytecode engine and .Net framework.
I remember turning in a Computer Science assignment in Python instead of using C++ once back in college. I discovered it after doing research for a previous or concurrent CS course which was a survey on Programming Languages. I didn’t see the logic in the syntax requirements of C++ at the time and Python offered a clean alternative and fit the requirements (mostly) for my professor. I then used it on a web search engine for a trade mag that had music concerts listings which got quite a bit of traffic just after launch. I went on to use Python many other times during my career, all the while admiring it’s readability.
My next interesting run-in with Python was discovering it inside of a very early version of Microsoft Merchant Server the predecessor to Site Server. I found out that the code was from a company that Microsoft had acquired.
This makes the recent IronPython announcement still a precedent setting event. It is the most significant involvement Microsoft has had to-date with the Open Source movement. Thus, with cautious optimism, I congradulate Guido Van Rossum for his contribution to the movement, it is obviously making an impact on the industry. Oh and thanks for the help, especially with http upload with Netscape 3. I’m very cautious about having important projects like Python forked by large companies. Microsoft is testing out it’s first major attempt at working with an existing codebase.
May 7th, 2005 at 2:51 pm
“It is the most significant involvement Microsoft has had to-date with the Open Source movement.”
Um, no. Microsoft funded the port of perl back in 99. They also distribute software under the GPL and the BSD.
http://www.entmag.com/news/article.asp?EditorialsID=1633
May 7th, 2005 at 7:59 pm
I realize they distribute and contribute to open source, thus the coment “most significant.” I used ActiveState perl for projects in a former life around in 1999 - I’m familiar with it. I think a good number of the news releases about Microsoft doing this-and-that is also lots of PR. I still believe that IronPython in the midst of .Net strategy is more significant than their involvement in ActiveState’s Perl port. You are, of course, welcome to your own opinion.