[heresie-dabord]

> Perl has a painful syntax, Python greatly improves on this with easy syntax.

I use Python and Perl. Some people who like Python want everything to be Python and "hate" anything that isn't Python. It approaches zealotry in some cases.

Perl syntax is expressive and is similar to C, C++, Java, and yes Bash. These are successful languages too despite not being pythonic.

[michaelwww]

I'd use PHP before I'd use PERL. PHP has experienced some dramatic improvements in the last 5 years

[cutler]

Sure, if you're a fan of Java verbosity. Since PHP 5.3 I don't know why Zend didn't just re-brand PHP as Java Lite. I also don't get why Rasmus allowed the Zend team to get away with it since at heart he's a procedural C guy.