It says something about the current drift towards complexity in the Python language (cf proposals for a ternary operator and do-while loops) that I almost believed that this was a real PEP. I can only hope that instead we'll see more changes like the new csv module or type unification which make life simpler.

Even though I still prefer Python (mostly due to the maturity, quality and size of the libraries) I think most Python developers would benefit from taking a look at Ruby and identifying ideas that are worth borrowing.

On another note. I've been adding caching to KwikWiki using < a href="http://www.opensymphony.com/oscache/">OsCache</a>. It works very well but learning to use it requires reading it's source code, scanning Google and diving through the project's mailing list archives. I hope to have a guide to using OsCache in Model 2 architectures with servlet filters up on my web site soon so that others won't have to learn the hard way.

One thing that I've begun to be interested in again is identifying a canon of programs that are worth reading for their educational value. As part of my day job I'm in the habit of using Kwikwiki to introduce people to certain ideas about object orientation and design patterns but I wish I had more examples to point people to. For now this wiki page will have to suffice.