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Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:04:24 +1000
From: Cameron Simpson <cs@zip.com.au>
To: =?utf-8?B?zqTOls6pzqTOls6Zzp/OpSA8dHpvdHppb3lAZ21haWwuY29tPg==?=@cskk.homeip.net
Subject: Re: Crazy what-if idea for function/method calling syntax
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Xref: x330-a1.tempe.blueboxinc.net comp.lang.python:9775

On 17Jul2011 15:54, ΤΖΩΤΖΙΟΥ <tzotzioy@gmail.com> wrote:
| What if a construct
| 
|    xx(*args1, **kwargs1)yy(*args2, **kwargs2)
| 
| was interpreted as
| 
|   xxyy(*(args1+args2), **(kwargs1+kwargs2))
| 
| (Note: with **(kwargs1+kwargs2) I mean “put keyword arguments in the
| order given”, since dicts can't be added)
| 
| This construct is currently a syntax error. The intent of this idea is
| to help improve legibility.
| 
| Example:
|   def place_at(item, x, y): blah blah
| could be called as
|   place(item)_at(x, y)
[...]
| There is also a big window for misuse (i.e. break the function/method
| name in illogical places), but I would classify this under “consenting
| adults”. It might be suggested as good form that function names break
| at underscores, like my examples.

Another problem is the scope for error. I can easily imagine typing:

  x=foo(x)bah(y)

when I intended to type:

  x=foo(x)+bah(y)

Adding your syntax causes silent breakage later instead of immediate
syntax error now.

Cheers,
-- 
Cameron Simpson <cs@zip.com.au> DoD#743
http://www.cskk.ezoshosting.com/cs/

hybrid rather than pure; compromising rather than clean;
distorted rather than straightforward; ambiguous rather than
articulated; both-and rather than either-or; the difficult
unity of inclusion rather than the easy unity of exclusion.
        - Paul Barton-Davis <pauld@cs.washington.edu>