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To: python-list@python.org
From: Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Python Front-end to GCC
Date: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 20:02:00 +0100
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Xref: csiph.com comp.lang.python:57547

On 25/10/2013 19:45, Mark Janssen wrote:
>>>>>>> OTOH why in particular would you want to initialise them with zeros? I
>>>>>>> often initialise arrays to nan which is useful for debugging.
>>>>>
>>>>> Is this some kind of joke?  What has this list become?
>>>>
>>>> It's a useful debugging technique to initialize memory to distinctive
>>>> values that should never occur in real data.
>>>
>>> If you're doing this, you're doing something wrong.   Please give me
>>> the hex value for NaN so I can initialize with my array.
>>
>> It is clear that you know as much about debugging as you do about objects
>> and message passing [...] can see why the
>> BDFL described you as an embarrassment, and if he didn't, he certainly
>> should have done.
>
> Clearly the python list has been taken over by TheKooks.  Notice he
> did not respond to the request.  Since we are talking about digital
> computers (with digital memory), I'm really curious what the hex value
> for NaN is to initialize my arrays....
>
> All hail chairman Meow.  Dismissed.
>

Reinstating http://code.activestate.com/lists/python-ideas/19908/ where 
you're described as a quack, which I assume in this context makes you an 
expert on duck typing, which should obviously be abbreviated to ducking.

As for the hex value for Nan who really gives a toss?  The whole point 
is that you initialise to something that you do not expect to see.  Do 
you not have a text book that explains this concept?

-- 
Python is the second best programming language in the world.
But the best has yet to be invented.  Christian Tismer

Mark Lawrence