[jerf]

At the current rates, it seems like it's only going to be another 5 years or so before Python is straight-up a more complicated language than Perl 5. What it lacks in frankly bizarre corner cases it's going to make up for in subtly bizarre corner cases.

I used to feel like I could define __getattr__ or __setattr__ and understand the implications, but that's getting increasingly terrifying.

[BiteCode_dev]

Pattern matching is implemented as syntaxic sugar on top of if/else in the bytecode.

Behavior doesn't change at all.

[solaxun]

Uhhh... yeah but that's true of almost every language feature, right? I love pattern matching but I think the point is that Python risks turning into a "kitchen sink" language with too many syntactical forms to keep in ones head if this continues.

[BiteCode_dev]

I'm sure I think of a dozen python syntax trick most python devs do not not exist.

Python is good enough without them that they never had to learn them.

In fact, today I'm teaching "advanced python" to someone that has been coding in python for a year.

This person didn't know about list comprehensions.

I would not worry about that.

[jerf]

Sorry, are you trying to argue for or against the proposition that Python is on track to be straight-up more complicated than Perl 5 at this rate? Your tone suggests you think you're arguing against it, but all the evidence you're bringing is for the proposition.