Python Zen Debate

Discussions center on whether Python's syntax, features, and code styles adhere to the Zen of Python principles, such as 'explicit is better than implicit' and 'one obvious way to do it', often labeling things as 'pythonic' or 'unpythonic'.

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Keywords

ConfigMapping OO e.g ABC IMO CHAR POV python.org i.e github.com python language zen syntax explicit implicit python python obvious idiomatic sadly

Sample Comments

Zanni Nov 5, 2023 View on HN

I feel like Python is getting ever farther away from "Explicit is better than implicit."

amon22 Jul 18, 2023 View on HN

Why keep the syntax? It's one of the least impressive part of Python

mzs Apr 19, 2019 View on HN

python lost the 'only one obvious right way' zen long ago sadly.

marcus_holmes Jul 3, 2018 View on HN

I'm confused. Are you saying it's unpythonic but you like it anyway?

mark-r Feb 7, 2020 View on HN

It's part of the zen of Python: Explicit is better than implicit.

KerrAvon Oct 21, 2023 View on HN

Python _really_ doesn't need more obtuse syntax. It's bad enough as it is.

fxj Dec 23, 2019 View on HN

in the zen of python (import this) it says:there should be one-- and preferably only one --obvious way to do it.sadly this is not true for a while in python now. Python became a language that can be really hard to read now.

bthornbury Sep 11, 2016 View on HN

This is somewhat against the zen of python, but then again "Beautiful is better than ugly." :)

GFK_of_xmaspast Jul 21, 2014 View on HN

"unpythonic" once again meaning "disliked by van Rossum."

BugsJustFindMe Oct 19, 2025 View on HN

The zen itself is correct even when Python doesn't follow it.