Python’s type system is dramatically better than Javascript’s though. Try doing things like '' + True and Javascript will do incredibly stupid things. Python will just give you a type error. Also, look at things like == vs === in Javascript as well. That’s the biggest reason why Typescript replaced it overnight. Python has found a better balance between productivity and error safety.
In my opinion, the biggest shortcoming of Python’s dynamic typing system is that you need to have very thorough test coverage to be sure that your code doesn’t have semantic errors (a lot more than, say, Java). It has gotten better with the introduction of type hints, those I don’t have much experience with them, so I can’t say how much.
In my opinion, the biggest shortcoming of Python’s dynamic typing system is that you need to have very thorough test coverage to be sure that your code doesn’t have semantic errors
Sure, but as with all things, it can depend on a lot of factors. All code needs some degree of testing, though one could certainly argue that Python needs more than Java and Java needs more than Rust/Haskell/etc. So you could argue that the productivity gain of using Python is offset by the productivity loss of extra testing. It’s still hard to say which one wins out in the end.
Python’s type system is dramatically better than Javascript’s though. Try doing things like
'' + Trueand Javascript will do incredibly stupid things. Python will just give you a type error. Also, look at things like==vs===in Javascript as well. That’s the biggest reason why Typescript replaced it overnight. Python has found a better balance between productivity and error safety.In my opinion, the biggest shortcoming of Python’s dynamic typing system is that you need to have very thorough test coverage to be sure that your code doesn’t have semantic errors (a lot more than, say, Java). It has gotten better with the introduction of type hints, those I don’t have much experience with them, so I can’t say how much.
That is a large shortcoming.
Sure, but as with all things, it can depend on a lot of factors. All code needs some degree of testing, though one could certainly argue that Python needs more than Java and Java needs more than Rust/Haskell/etc. So you could argue that the productivity gain of using Python is offset by the productivity loss of extra testing. It’s still hard to say which one wins out in the end.
People underestimate the cost of testing.
Removing the need for entire classes of tests cases is a huge win