1.5) Python vs. Perl

Perl and Python are very similar languages with the same capabilities. How do you decide which one to learn, then?

• Personal preference: the languages have a slightly different syntax. Perl uses a lot of brackets to organise the flow of the programs, while Python uses indentation. There are other differences like this. Some features will suit your more than others.
• Support in group/community: there is little point in learning Perl if everyone else in your team uses Python. Being able to ask colleagues for help and learning from each other is so valuable.
• Libraries and packages: many packages, libraries and tools are available in a given language for specific scientific tasks. For example, Python has many packages that are extremely useful in the field of Environmental Sciences (plotting maps, processing geographical data) that aren’t available in Perl.

Overall, there seems to be a real growth in Python scientific users, and I would recommend researchers to learn and use Python rather than Perl.