Perl, Python, Ruby, Lisp, etc.?

[Billy Nostrand]

I'm familiar with C/C++ and I like the low level control, and I use Java when I want to get something done quickly. But I'm curious about the languages I mentioned in the title. Why are they used, and what for? I'm just looking for opinions and perspectives from people who have used them. Feel free to go off on a soapbox. I'm all ears! Thanks.

[Guaigean]

Perl - Systems administration, scripting, parsing, regular expressions, etc. Fast, powerful, proven.Python - Good scripting language, requires indentation for loops (no squirly brackets). Support is still mixed but growing. Lots of code out there, and is more recently being adopted for Web based.Ruby - Good OO scripting language. Not as high performance as Perl. Many people choose Python OR Ruby and stick with one. Similar capabilities, choose your flavor.Lisp - Not widely used anymore aside from teaching. Support is fading, but it had it's use in its heyday.Personally, I prefer to use Perl when doing admin scripting, and Python when running simulation/AI type stuff. I don't use Ruby much, but not because it's a bad language. I learned Python first, and figured it's better to be good at 1 of the two than mediocre at both (since they are so similar). Lisp, I haven't used since college.