Jack William Bell's Journal: Speaking of the monkey and the snake

The Mono Project has released version 0.19 and a debugger client. They also have some screenshots of the debugger and other GTK# programs running.

Sigh...

Here is my problem: I really, really like Python as a programming language. But I can't find work programming in it and I can nearly always find work doing Visual Basic and (hopefully) C#. In fact Visual Basic has turned into a real tar baby on me. I just can't get away from the damn thing!

Now, C# is a pretty cool language and the .Net framework (no matter what language you are using with it) is very, very cool. So I am torn. I can use my limited mind-share to learn .Net to the guru level (I already know it well enough to be damn productive), or I can continue to learn Python. But I really can't do both.

Yes I see you with the hand up, and yes you are correct; I can use Python under .Net -- but if I am learning .Net I might as well learn C# too. And besides, skills with Python under .Net do not translate to skills with Python elsewhere.

Without Mono my descision would be a slam-dunk. After the elegant syntax, Python's second coolest feature is its cross-platform interoperability. But Mono promises the same interoperability along with all the features of .Net! And it is Open Source to boot.

So I might as well give in and concentrate on C# and .Net, while in my heart I will long after Python...

Update: I am fully aware that this post sounds like some fifteen year old saying "I really, really like Natalie 'cuz, like, she is so nice and pretty and all. But she won't go out with anyone and Valerie and her sister Suzie will go out with me anytime I ask. So I am gonna be with the sisters, but I will be thinking of Natalie."

Intentional, I assure you. The love of men for things like cars, boats, guns, tools and programming languages has many parallels with our love for women. That is why there are country songs about pickups.