Python、Lua和Ruby——腳本大PK

譯者按：Python、lua和ruby在C/C++是日漸式微的情況下，在java/.net的圍殲中努力抗争的三個當紅小生。在TomGutschmidt的著作《Game Programmng with Python, Lua andRuby》一書中，介紹了三種語言在遊戲中的應用，其中尤為了不起的是在書中最後一章中比較了三種腳本，作者沒有說孰優孰劣，但是讀者你認為呢？歡迎留言讨論。

本文最初發表于戀花蝶的部落格http://blog.csdn.net/lanphaday，歡迎轉載，但敬請保持全文完整。

Python versus Lua Versus Ruby

Python、Lua和Ruby——腳本大P.K.

Tom Gutschmidt 著

賴勇浩(http://blog.csdn.net/lanphaday) 譯

Sowhich of the three languages is the best to use on your project? Thatdepends a great deal on what you want to accomplish. To wrap up thebook, I've outlined some of the pros and cons of each language in thissection.

這三種語言中的哪一種更合适你的項目？很大程度取決于你想達到什麼樣的目标。作為一書的結尾，在這一節裡，我會描述一下它們各自的優點和不足。

Python Pros and Cons

Python的優點和不足

The pros of Python are as follows:

Python的優點如下：

·         Python has more extension modules than the other languages.

·         Python比其它語言有更多擴充子產品。

·         Manyonline Python tutorials exist. There are also plenty of English booksand reference materials, many sample scripts exist online, and there isa wealth of introductory material. The Python.org Website is a goodplace to start looking for these because it has sections for beginners,tutorials, guides organized by topic, and lists of links and references.

·         在網上可以找到很多Python教程。不僅如此，還有大量的英文書籍和資料。Python.org有很多為初學者準備的依主題組織的資料、教程和程式設計指南，此外還有很多連結和參考。

·         Most folks really enjoy the syntax of the Python language because it appears clean and is easy to read.

·         很多人都喜歡Python語言的文法，因為它清晰易讀。

·         Python has an edge where libraries are concerned. There are many libraries, and, for the most part, they are well documented.

·         Python在支援庫上大占優勢，因為它有很多庫，而且大部分都有完善的文檔支援。

·         Lots of tools that tie into Python are available, and they are often easier to find than the tools for Lua and Ruby.

·         很多工具可以用于Python，但難以找到适用于Lua和Ruby的。

The cons of Python are as follows:

Python的不足：

·         Existing Python debuggers are considered quirky and slow. Debugging support on Macintosh and consoles is even weaker.

·         現有的Python調試器詭異而且效率低下。在Macintosh（蘋果計算機）和控制台下進行調試是一個夢魇。

·         Itcan be difficult to bundle Python with other languages. There are lotsof binary DLLs, and Python has (compared to the other languages) alarge standard distribution.

·         Python難以與其它語言內建，它有太多的二進制DLL，而且Python帶了巨大的标準釋出包。

·         Lots of folks really dislike the white space sensitivity of Python syntax.

·         同樣的，也有很多人不喜歡Python對空白符敏感的文法。

·         Python can be quite slow at times, as everything is an object on the heap.

·         因為堆上的任何東西都是對象，是以Python有時候會慢得難以忍受。

Lua Pros and Cons

Lua的優點和不足

The pros of Lua are as follows:

Lua的優點：

·         Lua is probably the fastest of the three languages and usually uses the least amount of runtime memory.

·         Lua在這三種語言中是運作時速度最快而且占内在最少的。

·         Lau has the smallest memory footprint for bundling.

·         內建Lua隻會增加極少的記憶體占用率。

·         The Lau C API is very well documented and has good examples for integrating with C.

·         Lua的C API有着完備着文檔和很好的例子，可以容易地通過C內建在軟體裡。

The cons of Lua are as follows:

Lua的不足：

·         Thedocumentation has improved but is still a bit sketchy overall. Of thethree languages, Lua it is probably the least documented (the API beingthe exception), with the least amount of code comments. This makes forthe largest ramp-up time to learn, and there isn't much in the way ofintroductory Lua material.

·         盡管Lua的文檔已經增進不少，但仍然有所不足。三種語言中，Lua可能是文檔最少的（API方面是個例外），因為代碼中極少注釋，這也增加了學習的難度。另外，對Lua的本質也沒有什麼介紹。

·         There isn't a lot of built-in functionality for Lua. There is little support if you need to create a large, complex application.

·         Lua内建的功能很少，并沒有對建立大型的複雜應用程式提供足夠支援。

·         Luacould use a better garbage collectorthe current development is movingtowards that now. Right now, Lua GC uses a very simple and traditionalsimple mark and sweep.

·         Lua應該使用更好的垃圾收集機制，Lua現在的GC仍然使用非常簡單而且傳統的“标記和清除”方式。

Pros and Cons of Ruby

Ruby的優點和不足

The pros of Ruby are as follows:

Ruby的優點：

·         Ruby possesses fairly good advanced debuggers.

·         Ruby有極好的進階調試器。

·         Rubyis object oriented from the ground up, and programmers who are OOPenthusiasts or who are used to the OOP paradigm will find the languageextremely comfortable.

·         Ruby是最徹底的面向對象語言，對于OOP狂熱者和慣于使用OOP範式的程式員，他們将會發現Ruby是最适合他們的語言。

·         Ruby has arguably the simplest syntax, with no real rules exceptions. Especially true for OOP enthusiasts. 

·         Ruby的文法極為簡單，沒有讓人出乎意料規則，特别适合OOP行家的習慣。

The cons of Ruby are as follows:

Ruby的不足：

·         Lack of English documentation.

·         英文文檔極度缺乏。

·         Fewer existing works and samples for games than with the other languages.

·         與其它語言相比，在遊戲方面所作的工作和執行個體都少得多。