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Newsgroups: comp.lang.python
Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2013 14:40:37 -0800 (PST)
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Subject: Re: Python Newbie
From: piterrr.dolinski@gmail.com
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Xref: csiph.com comp.lang.python:39479

Thanks to all for quick relies.

Chris, you are (almost) spot on with the if blocks indentation. This is wha=
t I do, and it has served me well for 15 years.

code
code

   if (some condition)
   {
      code
      code
   }

code
code

This is what I call code clarity. With Python, I am having to do this

code
code

##############################

if (some condition):
  code
  code

##############################

code
code

It does the job, but is not ideal.

I am nervous about using variables "out of the blue", without having to dec=
lare them. For example, when I write "i =3D 0" it is perfectly OK to Python=
 without 'i' being declared earlier. How do I know that I haven't used this=
 variable earlier and I am unintentionally overwriting the value? I find I =
constantly have to use the search facility in the editor, which is not fun.

You see, Javascript, for one, behaves the same way as Python (no variable d=
eclaration) but JS has curly braces and you know the variable you have just=
 used is limited in scope to the code within the { }. With Python, you have=
 to search the whole file.

Thanks to Chris, Ian and Dave for explaining the () issue around if and for=
 statement. I don't agree with this, but I understand your points. The reas=
on why I like parentheses is because they help with code clarity. I am obse=
ssed with this. :-) After all, there is a reason why so many languages have=
 required them for several decades.


What about Python's ambiguity?
For example, in C you would write

if (myVar !=3D 0)
  do something

in Python, this is legal

if (not myVar):
  do something

What does this mean? Is it a test for myVar being equal to zero or a test f=
or null, or else?

I want to learn a new language but Python's quirks are a bit of a shock to =
me at this point. I have been Pythoning only for about a week.

In the mean time, thanks to most of you for encouraging me to give Python a=
 chance. I will do my best to like it, w/o prejudice.

Peter