I am a C++ developer, slowly getting into web development. I like LISP a lot but don’t like AllegroCL and web-frameworks available for LISP. I am looking for more freedom and ability to do cool hacks on language level. I don’t consider tabs as a crime against nature.
Which one is closer to LISP: Python or Ruby?
I can’t seem to be able to choose from Python and Ruby: they seem very similar but apparently Ruby is more functional and object-oriented, which are good things, while Python is more like Perl: a simple scripting language. Do I have the right impression?
PS – This might seem like a flame bait but it’s not really, I’m just trying not to go crazy from OCD about switching from RoR to Python/Django and back.
I’d go with Ruby. It’s got all kinds of metaprogramming and duck punching hacks that make it really easy to extend. Features like blocks may not seem like much at first, but they make for some really clean syntax if you use them right. Open classes can be debugging hell if you screw them up, but if you’re a responsible programmer, you can do things like
2.days.from_now(example from Rails) really easily (Python can do this too, I think, but with a bit more pain)PS: Check out ‘Why Ruby is an acceptable LISP’.