You can immediately tell.

The C language was invented in the US. The Python language was invented in Europe.

How, you say?

Look at keyboards from the US and countries in Europe. Want to be precise? Look at a Dutch keyboard. Something is missing!

Python is an example of intentional design

When you look at Python, you see it's made for readability.

But more interestingly, Python doesn't have curly braces. They're readily available on US keyboards. The same goes for backslashes. On EU keyboards, they're hidden away, a layer deep and you have to use Alt Gr to even reach them.

How do you make something popular? Make it easy to use!

Python isn't the fastest. Python isn't the easiest to install on different OS. Python isn't universal in browsers or in high-performance computing. Python isn't installed on 3 billion devices with big corporations backing it.

There's no reason for Python to be the #1 beyond design and community.

The rules are changing

When you want to build something with appeal, you have to think international.

• Easier code to write in Python for all keyboard types makes it international.
• Squid game was dubbed in over 30 languages and subtitled in even more.
• Facebook took a huge profit-ding to redesign a mobile-first approach because internationally almost everyone has a phone, few have a laptop.

When you make it easy for people to use, you significantly increase the chances for your thing to take off. When you make it easy for 7 billion instead of 300 million, you might find fans in surprising places.

This atomic essay was part of the October 2021 #Ship30for30 cohort. A 30-day daily writing challenge by Dickie Bush and Nicolas Cole. Want to join the challenge?