if this book has achieved its goalsyou should by now have good understanding of why python has been called "next-generation scripting language compared with similar toolsit has some critical distinctions that we're finally in position to summarizetcl like tclpython can be used as an embedded extension language unlike tclpython is also full-featured programming language for manypython' data structure tools and support for programming-in-the-large make it useful in more domains tcl demonstrated the utility of integrating interpreted languages with modules python provides similar functionality plus powerfulobject-oriented languageit' not just command string processor perl like perlpython can be used for writing shell toolsmaking it easy to use for system services unlike perlpython has simplereadable syntax and remarkably coherent design for somethis makes python easier to use and better choice for programs that must be reused or maintained by others without questionperl is powerful system administration tool but once we move beyond processing text and filespython' features become attractive scheme/lisp like scheme (and lisp)python supports dynamic typingincremental developmentand metaprogrammingit exposes the interpreter' state and supports runtime program construction unlike lisppython has procedural syntax that is familiar to users of mainstream languages such as and pascal if extensions are to be coded by end usersthis can be major advantage smalltalk like smalltalkpython supports object-oriented programming (oopin the context of highly dynamic language unlike smalltalkpython doesn' extend the object system to include fundamental program control flow constructs users need not come to grips with the concept of if statements as message-receiving objects to use python--python is more conventional icon like iconpython supports variety of high-level datatypes and operations such as listsdictionariesand slicing in more recent timespython' notions of iteration and generators approach icon' backtracking in utility unlike iconpython is fundamentally simple programmers (and end usersdon' need to master esoteric concepts such as full-blown backtracking just to get started basic like modern structured basic dialectspython has an interpretive/interactive nature unlike most basicspython includes standard support for advanced programming features such as classesmodulesexceptionshigh-level datatypesand enter python