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Groups > comp.lang.python > #99056

Re: What is a function parameter =[] for?

From BartC <bc@freeuk.com>
Newsgroups comp.lang.python
Subject Re: What is a function parameter =[] for?
Date 2015-11-19 13:19 +0000
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <n2ki4t$aqj$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References <d9045bdd-a5d4-4c5c-9fd3-3d54f6b50862@googlegroups.com> <mailman.429.1447884751.16136.python-list@python.org> <n2j0k4$up4$1@dont-email.me> <564dbe6b$0$1610$c3e8da3$5496439d@news.astraweb.com>

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On 19/11/2015 12:19, Steven D'Aprano wrote:
> On Thu, 19 Nov 2015 10:14 am, BartC wrote:

> Consider this pair of functions:
>
>
> def expensive():
>      # Simulate some expensive calculation or procedure.
>      time.sleep(100)
>      return random.randint(1, 6)
>
>
> def demo(arg=expensive()):
>      return arg + 1
>
>
> Now we call the second function four times, without an argument so that the
> default value is used:
>
> demo()
> demo()
> demo()
> demo()
>
> What results do you expect?

If someone /wants/ expensive() to be called each time, then why not? If 
they don't, then it seems easy enough to write:

demo_default=expensive()
def demo(arg=demo_default):
	...

(As you mention later...)

> - if the language defaults to early binding, it is *easy* for the
>    programmer to get late binding semantics;
>
> - if the language defaults to late binding, it is *very difficult*
>    for the programmer to get early binding semantics.

I got the impression that Python was a nice, easy language for everyone 
to use. Not one where you need a Master's degree in CS to understand the 
nuances of! And to understand why something that is so blindingly 
obvious doesn't work.

> But let's try going the other way. Suppose function defaults were evaluated
> each and every time you called the function. How could you *avoid* the
> expense and waste of re-evaluating the default over and over again?

I use default parameters a lot in other languages.

99% of the time the default value is a constant. And most often that 
constant is 0, "" or an empty list.

You want these very common examples to /just work/ instead of going to 
lengths trying to explain why they don't.

> You can't, or at least, not cleanly and easily. The most obvious way is to
> use a global variable:
>
> ARG = expensive()
>
> def demo(arg=ARG):
>      ...
>
> This is ... horrible. You are still evaluating the default each time,

I implement an interpreted language where these calls:

   demo()
   demo(ARG)

would have exactly the same cost.

I understand that Python is very different: at the call-site, the 
compiler has no idea of the number of arguments a function defines or 
what the default values might be, or even if it is a function that is 
being called.

But even under those circumstances, I would endeavour to make such a 
function call as fast as is practical.

(That could involve a runtime check on number of parameters, 
substituting the equivalent of None for missing ones, or whatever 
default expression has been declared.

But here, I am benefiting from my language not being Python which does 
seem to like making things difficult.)

> but at
> least it is only a global variable lookup,

Maybe you can wrap the entire module inside a function? Other than a bit 
at the end that calls that function. Does that solve the global lookup 
problem?

> When you deal with mutable objects, you have to expect them to mutate. The
> whole point of mutability is that their value can change.

That [] doesn't look like an object that could change. It looks like an 
empty list constructor. You would expect a constructor for an empty list 
to yield an empty list throughout a program! (As it does, in most other 
contexts.)

You presumably think differently because you have some inside knowledge 
of how Python works, and know that that [] undergoes a one-time 
assignment to a local, persistent 'default' variable where it's value 
can indeed by changed. (Thanks to another Python feature where an 
assignment is a very shallow copy of an object.) And it is that volatile 
variable that is the actual default.

But not everyone is going to know that.

-- 
Bartc

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Thread

What is a function parameter =[] for? fl <rxjwg98@gmail.com> - 2015-11-18 13:08 -0800
  Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? John Gordon <gordon@panix.com> - 2015-11-18 22:05 +0000
  Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-18 15:11 -0700
    Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Grant Edwards <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2015-11-18 22:33 +0000
    Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? fl <rxjwg98@gmail.com> - 2015-11-18 14:38 -0800
      Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-18 15:47 -0700
      Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? fl <rxjwg98@gmail.com> - 2015-11-18 14:48 -0800
    Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-18 23:14 +0000
      Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-19 10:22 +1100
        Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-19 01:41 +0000
          Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-19 12:59 +1100
            Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-19 11:41 +0000
              Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-19 22:58 +1100
              Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-19 23:45 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-19 08:42 -0700
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-22 14:58 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 13:38 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-25 04:29 +1100
          Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2015-11-19 13:08 +1100
          Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-19 13:15 +1100
      Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-18 17:02 -0700
      Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-19 11:14 +1100
        Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? fl <rxjwg98@gmail.com> - 2015-11-18 16:34 -0800
          Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-18 17:52 -0700
          Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? MRAB <python@mrabarnett.plus.com> - 2015-11-19 01:02 +0000
          Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2015-11-19 12:26 +1100
          Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-19 22:38 +1100
      Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-19 23:19 +1100
        Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-19 13:19 +0000
          Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-20 00:45 +1100
          Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> - 2015-11-19 09:05 -0500
          Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-20 03:01 +1100
            Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-20 04:30 +1100
            Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-19 17:30 +0000
              Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-20 04:45 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-19 18:19 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2015-11-19 18:26 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-19 18:50 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-20 06:09 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-19 19:48 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-20 06:58 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-20 11:26 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2015-11-19 16:36 -0800
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Laura Creighton <lac@openend.se> - 2015-11-20 02:00 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-19 17:59 -0700
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-11-19 20:39 +0200
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-19 11:42 -0700
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Oscar Benjamin <oscar.j.benjamin@gmail.com> - 2015-11-19 18:44 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-20 06:19 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-19 21:21 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Michael Torrie <torriem@gmail.com> - 2015-11-19 15:55 -0700
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-20 00:11 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2015-11-19 16:27 -0800
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 14:43 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-25 01:00 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 15:24 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-25 01:34 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 16:01 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 16:03 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 16:12 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-25 02:17 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-25 04:54 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 16:46 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-25 02:48 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Random832 <random832@fastmail.com> - 2015-11-24 16:28 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-25 03:38 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 17:41 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-24 09:56 -0700
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 18:32 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-24 10:53 -0700
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-24 11:04 -0700
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 19:45 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2015-11-24 10:54 -0800
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Random832 <random832@fastmail.com> - 2015-11-24 19:00 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-25 11:34 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-24 12:15 -0700
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-24 12:15 -0700
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 21:54 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-24 21:14 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 22:25 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-25 11:36 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-25 11:56 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-25 10:56 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-26 04:40 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-25 19:27 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-26 11:10 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-25 13:39 -0700
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-25 22:05 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-26 09:06 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-25 15:38 -0700
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Alan Bawden <alan@csail.mit.edu> - 2015-11-25 21:08 -0500
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-26 13:25 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Alan Bawden <alan@csail.mit.edu> - 2015-11-25 23:27 -0500
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Dave Farrance <df@see.replyto.invalid> - 2015-11-26 10:34 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-11-26 12:58 +0200
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Dave Farrance <df@see.replyto.invalid> - 2015-11-26 11:12 +0000
                Object identity has no necessary connection to memory location (was: What is a function parameter =[] for?) Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2015-11-26 22:24 +1100
                Re: Object identity has no necessary connection to memory location (was: What is a function parameter =[] for?) Dave Farrance <df@see.replyto.invalid> - 2015-11-26 11:50 +0000
                Re: Object identity has no necessary connection to memory location Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2015-11-27 07:00 +1100
                Re: Object identity has no necessary connection to memory location Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-27 13:17 +1100
                Re: Object identity has no necessary connection to memory location Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2015-11-26 21:44 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-26 22:24 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-11-26 13:27 +0200
                Re: Object identity has no necessary connection to memory location (was: What is a function parameter =[] for?) Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-26 22:49 +1100
                Re: Object identity has no necessary connection to memory location Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-26 13:04 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-27 12:34 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2015-11-27 12:40 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-27 13:44 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? MRAB <python@mrabarnett.plus.com> - 2015-11-27 02:56 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-27 23:57 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Laura Creighton <lac@openend.se> - 2015-11-27 14:24 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-28 00:29 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-27 14:06 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2015-11-27 15:56 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Random832 <random832@fastmail.com> - 2015-11-26 23:33 -0500
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-25 19:46 -0700
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-26 14:02 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-26 09:15 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-24 14:33 -0700
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-25 09:09 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-19 12:25 -0700
              Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2015-11-19 18:20 +0000
              Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-20 12:05 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-20 11:59 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2015-11-20 04:12 -0800
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-20 12:39 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-21 00:04 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2015-11-20 05:30 -0800
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> - 2015-11-20 08:34 -0500
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Random832 <random832@fastmail.com> - 2015-11-20 14:32 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-20 09:18 -0700
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-22 23:01 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2015-11-23 12:30 +1300
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 15:38 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 15:34 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2015-11-24 06:50 -0800
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> - 2015-11-24 12:46 -0500
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 19:27 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-11-20 14:28 +0200
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-20 12:53 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Random832 <random832@fastmail.com> - 2015-11-20 14:35 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-22 21:06 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-11-22 14:35 +0200
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-20 09:16 -0700
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-11-20 18:31 +0200
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-21 03:37 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-20 09:39 -0700
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-21 03:24 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-11-20 09:29 -0700
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-11-20 18:41 +0200
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-21 03:36 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-22 14:43 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-22 13:21 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-22 14:28 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-23 10:44 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2015-11-23 00:04 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-23 00:37 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2015-11-23 11:32 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2015-11-23 04:05 -0800
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-11-23 14:23 +0200
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-23 11:20 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2015-11-23 12:43 +1300
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-23 18:47 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-23 10:40 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-24 00:58 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 15:58 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-25 04:56 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 15:18 +0100
              Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 14:48 +0100
      Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 12:36 +0100
      Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-24 23:07 +1100
      Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 13:48 +0100
        Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-11-24 14:57 +0200
          Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2015-11-24 06:18 -0800
            Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-11-24 14:43 +0000
              Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-25 01:54 +1100
            Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-24 16:10 +0100
              Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2015-11-24 07:27 -0800
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Oscar Benjamin <oscar.j.benjamin@gmail.com> - 2015-11-24 17:25 +0000
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Ned Batchelder <ned@nedbatchelder.com> - 2015-11-24 09:35 -0800
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-11-24 20:13 +0200
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-25 05:33 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-11-24 21:17 +0200
            Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> - 2015-11-24 11:27 -0500
            Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-25 11:39 +1100
              Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Laura Creighton <lac@openend.se> - 2015-11-25 01:55 +0100
              A name refers to an object, an object has a value, equality compares values (was: What is a function parameter =[] for?) Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2015-11-25 13:17 +1100
                Re: A name refers to an object, an object has a value, equality compares values Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-11-25 08:44 +0200
                Re: A name refers to an object, an object has a value, equality compares values Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-25 19:27 +1100
              Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2015-11-25 10:36 +0100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Jussi Piitulainen <harvest@should.be.invalid> - 2015-11-25 13:39 +0200
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-11-25 14:48 +0200
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-11-26 00:50 +1100
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-11-25 16:08 +0200
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Jussi Piitulainen <harvest@should.be.invalid> - 2015-11-25 17:13 +0200
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-11-25 18:44 +0200
                Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Jussi Piitulainen <harvest@should.be.invalid> - 2015-11-25 20:30 +0200
          Re: What is a function parameter =[] for? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-11-25 03:11 +1100

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