Frequentis, a company that makes software for air traffic controllers, explains why it used Python for one of its suites - TAPtools, which let tower personnel monitor weather conditions, control runway lights and monitor and control navigational instruments:
"Python's runtime error handling makes it easier to locate and fix problems in code. The stack traces produced by Python, even when running in staged production on the custom PowerPanel hardware, have helped to speed up the testing and debugging process; Python's vast standard libraries allow rapid development of functionality without resorting to re-invention of the wheel; Python's very clean syntax and indentation-based program structure makes code much easier to read and maintain."
The company had been using another scripting language called Lua; a major reason it switched to Python was because of a requirement from Finnish authorities that the tool be accessible via a Web browser, which becomes easy with Jython, the Java port of Python.
Via Bob Congdon.
Back to CompendiumPost a comment
