[euphemize]

  This is easily described with a contrast to Python. [...] Ruby accepts both exit and quit to accommodate the programmer’s obvious desire to quit its interactive console. Python, on the other hand, pedantically instructs the programmer how to properly do what’s requested, even though it obviously know what is meant (since it’s displaying the error message).

When you're trying to convince me that your programming language is great because another one is so much shitter in comparison, you're on the defensive and basically telling me you don't trust your own stuff. Especially when this is at the top of your article.

By the way, python handles your example very gracefully in comparison to other REPLs (for instance, node spits out a cryptic, but expected traceback on exit/quit)

[brightball]

He didn't say Python was bad in comparison. He just highlighted a simple example of coding to spoken language expectation even if it means aliasing. It's a minor example of trying to make the development experience more enjoyable, nothing more.

[batiste]

> pedantically instructs the programmer how to properly do what’s requested, even though it obviously know what is meant (since it’s displaying the error message).

As others explained exit is an object and just typing it's name is just calling the __repr__ method. Exiting the program on a __repr__ would be setting an horrible example in the mind of a Python programmer: it's oki to execute program ending code into the representation of an object. So no, nothing pedantic about setting reasonable expectations about a language... In python if you want things to happen you have to use parenthesis.

[euphemize]

Did you read the quote? He very exactly says that python is bad in comparison - by using a concrete python vs ruby example.

If this was a passing mention on some blog post, I'd be inclined to believe you, but this post is not like any other. It's a descriptive update of the current rails "doctrine". When I ask you "why is your X so great" and you tell me immediately "look at how bad Y does", I'm inclined to think you're not feeling very secure about X.

[warfangle]

It's a REPL. `exit` isn't in the standard library. Aliasing it doesn't make sense.