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Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do

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alex23 schreef op wo 21-12-2011 om 16:50 [-0800]:
> On Dec 22, 8:25 am, Eric <einazaki...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > This surprises me, can someone tell me why it shouldn't?  I figure if
> > I want to create and initialize three scalars the just do "a=b=c=7",
> > for example, so why not extend it to arrays.
> 
> The thing to remember is that everything is an object, and that it's
> better to think of variables as labels on an object.
> 
> So: a=b=c=7 means that _one_ integer object with the value of 7 can be
> referenced using any of the labels a, b or c. x=y=z=[] means that
> _one_ empty list can be referenced using x, y or z.
> 
> The difference is that the value of a number object _cannot be
> changed_ ('immutable') while a list can be modified to add or remove
> items ('mutable'). a=10 just reassigns the label a to an integer
> object of value 10. x.append("foo") _modifies_ the list referred to by
> x, which is the same list known as y & z.
> 
> > Also, is there a more pythonic way to do "x=[], y=[], z=[]"?
> 
> I'd say that _is_ the most pythonic way, it's very obvious in its
> intent (or would be with appropriate names). If it bothers you that
> much:
> 
>     def listgen(count, default=[]):
>         for _ in xrange(count):
>             yield default[:]
> 
>     x, y, z = listgen(3)
> 


I'm afraid it's dangerous to encourage the use of '[]' as assignment to
a parameter in a function definition. If you use the function several
times 'default' always points to the same list. 

	>>> def return_list(list_ = []):
	>>>     return list_
	>>> a_list = return_list()
	>>> a_list
	    []
	>>> a_list.append(3)
	>>> a_list
	    [3]
	>>> b_list = return_list()
	>>> b_list
	>>> [3]   # !!??

	>>> def return_list():
	>>> 	return []
	>>> a_list = return_list()
	>>> a_list
	    []
	>>> a_list.append(3)
	>>> a_list
	    [3]
	>>> b_list = return_list()
	>>> b_list
	>>> []    # OK!

I only use python3 so I don't know how these things work in other
versions.

No problem in your function since you yield a copy, but I've already
seen long threads about this.

I would change your function to (Python3.x):

	def empty_lists(count):
	    for _ in range(count):
		yield []


Regards,

Rolf
	

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what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Eric <einazaki668@yahoo.com> - 2011-12-21 14:25 -0800
  Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> - 2011-12-21 18:20 -0500
    Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-21 23:48 +0000
      Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Thomas Rachel <nutznetz-0c1b6768-bfa9-48d5-a470-7603bd3aa915@spamschutz.glglgl.de> - 2011-12-24 19:41 +0100
        Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-25 13:16 +0000
    Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Thomas Rachel <nutznetz-0c1b6768-bfa9-48d5-a470-7603bd3aa915@spamschutz.glglgl.de> - 2011-12-24 19:45 +0100
  Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-21 23:44 +0000
    Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Eric <einazaki668@yahoo.com> - 2011-12-22 20:27 -0800
  Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2011-12-21 16:50 -0800
    Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Rolf Camps <rolf@roce.be> - 2011-12-22 09:51 +0100
      Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2011-12-22 18:10 -0800
        Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2011-12-22 19:59 -0700
          Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2011-12-22 19:40 -0800
            Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-23 15:25 +1100
            Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2011-12-22 22:22 -0700
              Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2011-12-22 22:00 -0800
        Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do rusi <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2011-12-23 00:38 -0800
          Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-23 09:39 +0000
            Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do rusi <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2011-12-23 02:22 -0800
              Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Robert Kern <robert.kern@gmail.com> - 2011-12-23 13:10 +0000
                Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do rusi <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2011-12-23 05:23 -0800
                Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Robert Kern <robert.kern@gmail.com> - 2011-12-23 13:53 +0000
                Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do rusi <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2011-12-23 06:57 -0800
                Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-23 15:33 +0000
                Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do rusi <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2011-12-23 07:59 -0800
          Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Ethan Furman <ethan@stoneleaf.us> - 2011-12-23 00:49 -0800
          Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-23 20:59 +1100
            Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do rusi <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2011-12-23 02:31 -0800
              Timeout when calling COM objects on Windows Wong Wah Meng-R32813 <r32813@freescale.com> - 2011-12-23 11:20 +0000
              Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Michael Torrie <torriem@gmail.com> - 2011-12-23 10:23 -0700
            Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Neil Cerutti <neilc@norwich.edu> - 2011-12-23 13:10 +0000
              Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Neil Cerutti <neilc@norwich.edu> - 2011-12-23 13:13 +0000
                Early and late binding [was Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do] Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-23 15:49 +0000
                Re: Early and late binding [was Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do] Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-24 02:55 +1100
                Re: Early and late binding [was Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do] Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-23 22:32 +0000
                Re: Early and late binding [was Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do] Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-24 09:50 +1100
                Re: Early and late binding [was Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do] Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-24 08:11 +0000
                Re: Early and late binding [was Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do] Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2011-12-23 11:15 -0500
                Re: Early and late binding [was Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do] alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2011-12-24 05:43 -0800
                Re: Early and late binding [was Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do] Mel Wilson <mwilson@the-wire.com> - 2011-12-23 11:27 -0500
                Re: Early and late binding [was Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do] alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2011-12-24 05:52 -0800
                Re: Early and late binding [was Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do] Neil Cerutti <neilc@norwich.edu> - 2011-12-23 17:03 +0000
                Re: Early and late binding [was Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do] Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-24 08:25 +0000
                Re: Early and late binding [was Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do] alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2011-12-24 06:08 -0800
                Re: Early and late binding [was Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do] Devin Jeanpierre <jeanpierreda@gmail.com> - 2011-12-24 18:25 -0500
                Re: Early and late binding [was Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do] alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2011-12-24 16:10 -0800
                Re: Early and late binding [was Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do] Devin Jeanpierre <jeanpierreda@gmail.com> - 2011-12-24 19:32 -0500
                Re: Early and late binding [was Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do] rusi <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2011-12-24 19:22 -0800
                Re: Early and late binding [was Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do] Lie Ryan <lie.1296@gmail.com> - 2011-12-25 15:12 +1100
                Re: Early and late binding [was Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do] Devin Jeanpierre <jeanpierreda@gmail.com> - 2011-12-23 19:24 -0500
                Re: Early and late binding [was Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do] Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-24 08:26 +0000
        Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Ethan Furman <ethan@stoneleaf.us> - 2011-12-23 00:38 -0800
    Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Ethan Furman <ethan@stoneleaf.us> - 2011-12-22 05:20 -0800
    Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Eric <einazaki668@yahoo.com> - 2011-12-22 19:46 -0800
  Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Lie Ryan <lie.1296@gmail.com> - 2011-12-24 21:30 +1100
  Re: what does 'a=b=c=[]' do Thomas Rachel <nutznetz-0c1b6768-bfa9-48d5-a470-7603bd3aa915@spamschutz.glglgl.de> - 2011-12-24 19:49 +0100

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