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0 pointsexceptione4mo ago0 comments

My motto wrt language choices: "It's the standard lib, stupid!"

My ultra hot take: there are only¹ two² programming ecosystems suitable for serious³ work:

  - .net (either run on CLR or compile as an AOT standalone binary)
  - jvm

The reason why is because they have a vast and vetted std lib. A good standard lib is a bigger boost then any other syntactic niceties.

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  1. I don't want other programming languages to die, so I am happy if you disagree with me. Other valid objection: some problems are better served by niche languages. Still, both .net and java support a plethora of niche languages.
  2. Shades of gr[e|a]y, some languages are more complete out of the box than others. 
  3. cf «pick boring tools»

0 comments

querez4mo ago

Arguably both Go and Python also have great stdlibs. The only advantage that JVM and .NET have is a default GUI package. Which is fair, but keeps getting less and less relevant as people rely more on web UIs.

BrouteMinou4mo ago

.Net has Blazor for WebUI.

I don't ask you to judge if you like it, I'm just saying that you can totally make a professional WebUI within the dotnet stdlib.

exceptioneOP4mo ago

Respectfully disagree. Python and Go std lib do not even play in the same league. I had to help someone with datetime¹ handling in Python a while back. The stdlib is so poor, you have to reach out for a thirdparty lib for even the most basic of tasks².

Don't take my word for it, take a dive. You wouldn't be the first to have adjust their view.

For example, this section is just about the built-in web framework asp.net: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core

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1. This might be a poor example as .net has NodaTime and the jvm has YodaTime as 3rd-party libs, for if one has really strict needs. Still, the builtin DateTime constructs offer way more than what Python had to offer.

2. Don't get me started on the ORM side of things. I know, you don't have to use one, but if you do, it better does a great job. And I wouldn't bat an eye if the ORM is not in the standard, but boy was I disappointed in Python's ecosystem. EF Core come batteries included and is so much better, it isn't fun anymore.

kunley4mo ago

You helped someone with Python, and what evidence do you have justifying your claims about alleged Go stdlib narrowness?

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