Talk:Python (programming language)/Archive 8

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Indentation not significant?

Does anyone besides Strombrg think that Python's use of indentation isn't worth mentioning in the lede? I strongly disagree as it's one of the more unique, useful, and visually striking attributes of the language. --Cybercobra (talk) 05:44, 15 March 2010 (UTC)

I don't consider it's use of indentation it's core/defining feature, so I also don't consider it significant enough for the lead. Section 4.1 on indentation could make more of a deal about it in comparison to other languages. peterl (talk) 05:55, 15 March 2010 (UTC)

strombrg here: When Python is attacked, it's normally attacked for its whitespace for blocks. It's now one of the things I now love most about the language, but when I first saw it, I thought it was awful - as is the reaction of many others new to the language. Putting something this likely to discourage newcomers in the first paragraph is just asking for trouble. Yes, unusual != bad, but it's important to keep in mind that this perspective is "truer" in technical discussion, not marketing discussion, because it's very common for humans to mistake the descriptive for the normative. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Strombrg (talk • contribs) 00:41, 19 March 2010 (UTC)

I believe, with Cybercobra, and with the longstanding consensus of article editors, that mentioning Python's indentation block style should be mentioned in the lead. This feature is one of the most widely mentioned aspects of Python in other introductions and discussion of Python. While I entirely agree that the significance of this feature is often exaggerated–both pro and con–the fact it is so frequently mentioned in 3rd party sources makes it notable to readers of the article. LotLE×talk 03:01, 19 March 2010 (UTC)

strombrg: No one's saying it shouldn't be mentioned, and in fact it is mentioned (again, as if once isn't enough) later in the article. I'm just saying it shouldn't be in a "you only get one first impression" spot where newcomers are more likely to be driven away by it - this in combination with the previous "claims to be powerful" stuff read like it was written by someone who hated the language. Please see http://www.se-radio.net/podcast/2006-02/episode-4-scripting-languages for a typical example of how whitespace for block scoping is misperceived outside the python community. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Strombrg (talk • contribs) 18:36, 20 March 2010 (UTC)

I think the indentation is important enough to be mentioned in the lead. Ulner (talk) 21:37, 20 March 2010 (UTC)

I think indentation makes Python "special". We could add the GvR's argument: you already use space/tabs to indent your code, why not make it part of the language (for better and for worst)? --0x6adb015 (talk) 12:28, 22 March 2010 (UTC)