yantor3d, 5 months ago

@nedbat A script is a temporary fix that the entire project/business relies on and is saved on someone's desktop.

A program has a temporary fix that the entire project/business relies on and was labeled "TODO: Fix" by someone who left the company years ago.

SkipHuffman, 2 months ago

@nedbat a script doesn't have bugs, it has unintended use cases.

aaribaud, 5 months ago

@nedbat Luckily, etymology comes to the rescue.

• program: from the greek pro (before) and gramma/graphein (write), meaning "written before".

• script: from the latin scriptum/scribere, meaning "written".

So... Basically the same unless someone decides they should bear different meanings because opinion.

mjgardner, 2 months ago (edited 2 months ago)

@nedbat Every “script” is a “real program” that’s looked down upon by its self-deprecating author or its snobby viewers as unworthy of a higher standard of care. Both fail to recognize that if it’s load-bearing, it’s worthy.

/cc @davidgerard

#programming #coding #scripting #development #SoftwareDevelopment #SoftwareEngineering

smurthys, 5 months ago

@nedbat

Script: Only the original writer can make it work

Program: Someone other than the original writer can make it work. Maybe. Sometimes.

btaroli, 5 months ago

deleted_by_author

will_r_s_hansen, 5 months ago

@btaroli @nedbat

Nah. There's moments when you realize your quick Python script has become a not-quick-at-all Python program.

purpletwiglet, 5 months ago

@nedbat I always thought the difference between a script and a program is:

• A script is never finished you just stop working on it.

• A program is never finished you just stop working on it.

brunus, 5 months ago

@purpletwiglet @nedbat

Even early Basic lines are programs...with ugly goto insctructions.
About Python :
If functions and/or classes, then, program.
no functions or/and no classes : script