As a system administrator, you run across numerous challenges and problems. Managing users, disk space, processes, devices, and backups can cause many system administrators to lose their hair, good humor, or sanity. Shell scripts can help, but they often have frustrating limitations. This is where a full-featured scripting language, such as Python, can turn a tedious task into an easy one. Python is a scripting language that looks like it was made for system administrators.
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Member since:2005-08-31
I think it is exacly the point of bnolsen
When portage was getting more complex, python wasn't the language to do the job anymore. A static typing, compiled language would be better. more error checking and compiled validation.
If you tried to use python application for more than scripting (music player, IDE, etc.) you'll see that as it become more complex, side effect make application unstable (they crash alot). Debuging start to make development no more productive than using compiled language (without pointer).
I develop mainly in python, but sometimes one need to face reality.
Member since:2005-07-07
When portage was getting more complex, python wasn't the language to do the job anymore. A static typing, compiled language would be better. more error checking and compiled validation.
I don't agree. I don't think it was complexity in general but instead portage just wasn't designed well enough to be extended to the degree it has been. This isn't a limitation of Python but a limitation of portage's initial design.
If you tried to use python application for more than scripting (music player, IDE, etc.) you'll see that as it become more complex, side effect make application unstable (they crash alot). Debuging start to make development no more productive than using compiled language (without pointer).
I use PIDA for Python development and it works very well for me. The latest version is very slick and hasn't crashed on me yet. I've also experimented with a few Python music players, like Quod Libet, which haven't caused me any stability issues although I find the interface lacking, which is hardly a complaint against Python.
Member since:2006-01-03
"When portage was getting more complex, python wasn't the language to do the job anymore. A static typing, compiled language would be better. more error checking and compiled validation."
Wait, we are talking about a package manager here, aren't we? Why on earth would a package manager require the extra effort of developing in a compiled language (C/C++) just to get a performance boost? I mean... how can a package manager be performance critical?
I don't know portage, but I would bet the problem is in the design and not in the language... yum used to be _brutally_ slow too, and it is much faster now, even though it keeps being Python. Not downloading tons of crap every time it is invoked helps a lot...
And it's just a package manager...
Member since:
2005-07-07
gentoo is probably the worst advertisement for python. On anything but a very modern fast machine the portage operations are painfully, painfully slow and IMHO show exactly why scripting languages shouldn't be used too ambitiously for things. They just don't scale well.
I don't think python is the real issue. Portage used to be very fast. Over the years though it has gotten bloated and inefficient. Extending it has been difficult and not without loss of efficiency. It really is time for a rewrite. People seem to be leaning towards a C++ solution but I would rather have Python so we can easily extend it and add new modules.