Speaker
Description
Python is arguably the major programming language for serious Digital Humanities (DH) research. There are new programming languages that work well for DH research, first R and (more recently) Julia, among others. With the rise of special-purpose programming languages that promise better functionality out of the box and faster performance, does that mean that Python is going extinct? This talk reviews Python's strengths and weaknesses as a programming language within the context of DH research, with additional consideration toward its advantages for teaching future DH programmers. What is the incentive to stay with Python as the primary programming language for DH? What is the incentive to abandon it and go to an emerging language? For institutions beginning to implement DH programs, which is the best way to begin? This review talk will attempt to lay out the evidence that Python is not only alive and well, but still the best programming language for DH research and education.
