We’ve got to look at the forces around the world sometimes. Google was primarily built on Python code. They happen to acquire the guy who started Python, Guido van Rossum, and now a very important project of Google, Google App Engine, is allowing people to build web apps using Python.

I used Python for a couple of projects myself and I agree, it’s a wonderful language. The semantic and the design of it make it really enjoyable to write from scratch, manage and expand from. It is however not as spread as PHP when it comes to web.

The fact that Google has chosen Python from the start and publishes a beta of such an important project (App Engine) using Python is a very interesting turn of events. The primary position of Google and its strategic position for the future of web developers (think google code) is going to be a huge boost for Python as a web development language.

Seeing the speed at which google sets up their own WIFI network around the world and their dominating position on the web (regardless of their not being evil motto), this is clearly making a statement.

Before it was: “we trust Python to be the answer to our problems”,
now it is: “we trust Python to be the new universal answer to your problems”.

I understand that Google App Engine will eventually support a multitude of languages but the launch of a beta with only Python available demonstrates their will to push Python as the new reference for web development. See more here. When you throw a long awaited beta to a gezillion thirsty nerds, it will push them to use Python and sets the momentum in a clear direction.

Is this the push Python needed to make it compete with PHP when it comes to web application development?

Is this a change in history, Google telling us what to use?

This is an early beta of a new Yahoo! service called Y! Live.

Yahoo live lets user create their own channel and be live on video I guess. It’s cool and all but frankly I wouldn’t do it. Some You Tube freaks might be craving for it tho, time will tell.

This early beta craps itself all the time. The app looks promising although unclear as to what it’s trying to achieve.

Check out Yahoo! Live.

Love the holycow (url) error.

Design:
Usability:
Execution:
Overall:

To be able to focus on other projects, Adobe has announced that it will discontinue its stock photo service (on April 1st).

The fact that sites such as istockphoto are so cheap makes it a very difficult market to compete into. Better spend the dollars in others area of expertise. Maybe a new IDE* for Flash?

More information here.

*: One can dream, yeah?