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Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__

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Chris Rebert, 23.02.2012 22:32:
> On Thu, Feb 23, 2012 at 1:19 PM, Buck Golemon <buck@yelp.com> wrote:
>> I feel like the design of sum() is inconsistent with other language
>> features of python. Often python doesn't require a specific type, only
>> that the type implement certain methods.
>>
>> Given a class that implements __add__ why should sum() not be able to
>> operate on that class?
> 
> The time machine strikes again! sum() already can. You just need to
> specify an appropriate initial value (the empty list in this example)
> for the accumulator :
> 
> Python 2.7.1 (r271:86832, Jul 31 2011, 19:30:53)
> [GCC 4.2.1 (Based on Apple Inc. build 5658) (LLVM build 2335.15.00)] on darwin
> Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>> sum([[1,2],[3,4]], [])
> [1, 2, 3, 4]

I know that you just meant this as an example, but it's worth mentioning in
this context that it's not exactly efficient to "sum up" lists this way
because there is a lot of copying involved. Each adding of two lists
creates a third one and copies all elements into it. So it eats a lot of
time and space.

Stefan

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sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Buck Golemon <buck@yelp.com> - 2012-02-23 13:19 -0800
  Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Buck Golemon <buck@yelp.com> - 2012-02-23 13:23 -0800
    Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Arnaud Delobelle <arnodel@gmail.com> - 2012-02-23 21:41 +0000
    Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-02-24 08:53 +1100
      Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-02-23 23:33 +0000
        Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-02-24 10:39 +1100
        Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2012-02-24 12:41 +0100
          Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2012-02-24 08:23 -0500
            Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> - 2012-02-24 16:58 -0500
    Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Arnaud Delobelle <arnodel@gmail.com> - 2012-02-23 21:59 +0000
    Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2012-02-23 15:00 -0700
    Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-02-24 09:04 +1100
    Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Arnaud Delobelle <arnodel@gmail.com> - 2012-02-23 22:09 +0000
  Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Arnaud Delobelle <arnodel@gmail.com> - 2012-02-23 21:32 +0000
  Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Chris Rebert <clp2@rebertia.com> - 2012-02-23 13:32 -0800
    Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Buck Golemon <buck@yelp.com> - 2012-02-23 13:38 -0800
      Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2012-02-23 14:54 -0700
  Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Stefan Behnel <stefan_ml@behnel.de> - 2012-02-23 22:42 +0100
    Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Duncan Booth <duncan.booth@invalid.invalid> - 2012-02-24 11:40 +0000
  Re: sum() requires number, not simply __add__ Peter Otten <__peter__@web.de> - 2012-02-24 09:29 +0100

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