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Old Apr 7th, 2005, 11:38 AM   #15
Cerulean
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Quote:
Cerulean: I too was planning to learn C++, but now that you mentioned Python, I have a few questions...

Which is more popular?
Which is more powerful?
Which is easier to pick up?
1. More people know C++ as it has been around for longer. This does not mean there aren't resources for Python available. Python has a huge, active community, all trying to get you to use that wonderful language.

2. Well, depends on how you mean. If, by power, you mean raw access to the os and the like, then i'd have to say C++. On the other hand i'd say Python gives you more power. My personal favourite is the downloading of a webpage, using nothing but the standard Python library:
import urllib
webpage = urllib.urlopen("http://foo.com/index.htm").read()
Anyone comprehend doing that in C++ in under 20 lines? That looks like power to me. The fact that it is so high level is powerful, and the fact that C++ is so low level is powerful.

3. Python, without a shadow of a doubt.
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