Re: is there any principle when writing python function

From	Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au>
Newsgroups	comp.lang.python
Subject	Re: is there any principle when writing python function
References	(4 earlier) <j38epo$t57$1@reader1.panix.com> <ac67bf41-0543-4d13-a015-8b5d2baeb4f8@t7g2000vbv.googlegroups.com> <mailman.453.1314395156.27778.python-list@python.org> <roy-C5BFB8.12413627082011@news.panix.com> <mailman.468.1314466082.27778.python-list@python.org>
Date	2011-08-28 07:57 +1000
Message-ID	<87vctitt43.fsf@benfinney.id.au> (permalink)
Organization	Unlimited download news at news.astraweb.com

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Emile van Sebille <emile@fenx.com> writes:

> Code is first and foremost written to be executed.

−1 QotW. I disagree, and have a counter-aphorism:

    “Programs must be written for people to read, and only incidentally for
    machines to execute.”
    —Abelson & Sussman, _Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs_

Yes, the primary *function* of the code you write is for it to
eventually execute. But the primary *audience* of the text you type into
your buffer is not the computer, but the humans who will read it. That's
what must be foremost in your mind while writing that text.

-- 
 \      “If you can't beat them, arrange to have them beaten.” —George |
  `\                                                            Carlin |
_o__)                                                                  |
Ben Finney

Thread

is there any principle when writing python function smith jack <thinke365@gmail.com> - 2011-08-23 19:59 +0800
  Re: is there any principle when writing python function Peter Otten <__peter__@web.de> - 2011-08-23 14:20 +0200
    Re: is there any principle when writing python function Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2011-08-23 08:56 -0400
  Re: is there any principle when writing python function Mel <mwilson@the-wire.com> - 2011-08-23 08:53 -0400
  Re: is there any principle when writing python function Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2011-08-23 08:55 -0400
  Re: is there any principle when writing python function Ulrich Eckhardt <ulrich.eckhardt@dominolaser.com> - 2011-08-23 15:00 +0200
  Re: is there any principle when writing python function Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-08-24 01:22 +1000
    Re: is there any principle when writing python function Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> - 2011-08-23 14:29 -0400
      Re: is there any principle when writing python function rantingrick <rantingrick@gmail.com> - 2011-08-23 13:22 -0700
      Re: is there any principle when writing python function Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-08-24 11:44 +1000
  Re: is there any principle when writing python function Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-08-23 16:53 +0000
  Re: is there any principle when writing python function rantingrick <rantingrick@gmail.com> - 2011-08-23 10:02 -0700
    Re: is there any principle when writing python function alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2011-08-23 20:05 -0700
    Re: is there any principle when writing python function alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2011-08-23 20:08 -0700
      Re: is there any principle when writing python function Red John <redjohn367@gmail.com> - 2011-08-24 16:29 -0700
  Re: is there any principle when writing python function ting@thsu.org - 2011-08-25 22:20 -0700
    Re: is there any principle when writing python function Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2011-08-26 07:15 -0400
      Re: is there any principle when writing python function rantingrick <rantingrick@gmail.com> - 2011-08-26 08:20 -0700
        Re: is there any principle when writing python function John Gordon <gordon@panix.com> - 2011-08-26 15:40 +0000
          Re: is there any principle when writing python function rantingrick <rantingrick@gmail.com> - 2011-08-26 11:05 -0700
            Re: is there any principle when writing python function Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-08-27 07:45 +1000
              Re: is there any principle when writing python function rantingrick <rantingrick@gmail.com> - 2011-08-26 15:26 -0700
              Re: is there any principle when writing python function Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-08-27 11:26 +1000
                Re: is there any principle when writing python function Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-08-27 11:37 +1000
              Re: is there any principle when writing python function Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2011-08-27 12:41 -0400
                Re: is there any principle when writing python function Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-08-28 02:57 +1000
                Re: is there any principle when writing python function Emile van Sebille <emile@fenx.com> - 2011-08-27 10:27 -0700
                Re: is there any principle when writing python function Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2011-08-28 07:57 +1000
                Re: is there any principle when writing python function Emile van Sebille <emile@fenx.com> - 2011-08-27 15:21 -0700
                Re: is there any principle when writing python function rantingrick <rantingrick@gmail.com> - 2011-08-27 16:01 -0700
                Re: is there any principle when writing python function Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2011-08-27 19:09 -0400
                Re: is there any principle when writing python function Stephen Hansen <me+list/python@ixokai.io> - 2011-08-27 16:27 -0700
                Re: is there any principle when writing python function Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-08-28 03:31 +1000
                Re: is there any principle when writing python function Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-08-28 06:27 +1000
                Re: is there any principle when writing python function Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-08-28 06:38 +1000
                Re: is there any principle when writing python function Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2011-08-27 17:09 -0400
        Re: is there any principle when writing python function Tobiah <tobiah@teranews.com> - 2011-08-26 08:48 -0700
          Re: is there any principle when writing python function Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-08-27 02:10 +1000
            Re: is there any principle when writing python function Neil Cerutti <neilc@norwich.edu> - 2011-08-29 14:52 +0000
              Re: is there any principle when writing python function Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-08-30 04:20 +1000
                Re: is there any principle when writing python function Neil Cerutti <neilc@norwich.edu> - 2011-08-29 18:40 +0000
                Re: is there any principle when writing python function Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-08-30 05:02 +1000
                For some value of “sing” (was: is there any principle when writing python function) Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2011-08-30 08:17 +1000
                Re: is there any principle when writing python function Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> - 2011-08-29 23:20 -0700
          Re: is there any principle when writing python function Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-08-27 04:16 +1000
            Re: is there any principle when writing python function rantingrick <rantingrick@gmail.com> - 2011-08-26 15:37 -0700
  Re: is there any principle when writing python function harrismh777 <harmar@member.fsf.org> - 2011-08-27 23:51 -0500

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