[smosher]

We have some Python code kicking around, but it hasn't penetrated our codebase very much, and in fact has never made itself integral. We have one very small yet important tool that had an implementation in Python but it was eventually rewritten. While has always been a very important tool, it was never a service. We've never (to the best of my knowledge) had Python in any of our server code, it just hasn't come to pass.

As for Ruby, I think the closest we came was a Redmine install. I don't have enough experience with Ruby to pass any judgments, but to me it feels like a poor compromise between some other languages. I don't think I'd mind replacing our use of PHP with it but it would be a harder sell than I would be in for and it simply wouldn't be worth it, considering the value of homogeneity within the existing PHP projects (or alternatively, the cost of rewrites.) Besides, I see no reason to avoid Perl here, virtually all of the PHP is database driven... DBI is just phenomenal.

Even though we're willing to take on another language it still must be justified. I suppose I have to answer the real question now. My answer is: I don't know about 'progression' (there's certainly a discontinuity) but I think Perl 6 is a natural evolution of Perl—not specifically Perl 5, but a truly 100% organic product of Perl culture. It also has some specific enhancements that solve real problems I have identified in our code which wouldn't be possible without a break of some kind.