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Groups > comp.lang.python > #17408 > unrolled thread

Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax

Started byEelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com>
First post2011-12-17 06:38 -0800
Last post2011-12-28 04:04 -0800
Articles 4 on this page of 124 — 17 participants

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  Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-17 06:38 -0800
    Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-17 17:00 +0000
      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2011-12-17 12:14 -0500
        Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-18 04:18 +1100
          Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-17 12:11 -0800
            Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-17 23:20 +0000
    Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-18 00:59 +0000
      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-18 13:45 +1100
        Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-18 03:33 +0000
          Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2011-12-17 22:59 -0500
            Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-18 15:05 +1100
      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Evan Driscoll <edriscoll@wisc.edu> - 2011-12-17 21:03 -0600
        Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-18 08:46 +0000
      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Evan Driscoll <edriscoll@wisc.edu> - 2011-12-17 21:08 -0600
      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-18 14:42 +1100
      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Evan Driscoll <edriscoll@wisc.edu> - 2011-12-17 22:43 -0600
      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-18 16:00 +1100
      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-18 06:13 -0800
        Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-18 17:03 +0000
          Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-18 09:40 -0800
    Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax buck <workitharder@gmail.com> - 2011-12-17 20:52 -0800
      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-18 16:21 +1100
      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Evan Driscoll <edriscoll@wisc.edu> - 2011-12-17 23:33 -0600
        Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-18 07:31 +0000
          Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-18 19:43 +1100
            Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2011-12-18 08:58 -0500
              Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-19 01:06 +1100
          Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Evan Driscoll <edriscoll@wisc.edu> - 2011-12-18 13:56 -0600
            Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Duncan Booth <duncan.booth@invalid.invalid> - 2011-12-19 15:23 +0000
        Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-18 08:36 +0000
          Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Evan Driscoll <edriscoll@wisc.edu> - 2011-12-18 13:47 -0600
            Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-19 01:26 +0000
              Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Rick Johnson <rantingrickjohnson@gmail.com> - 2011-12-18 18:16 -0800
                Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Andrew Berg <bahamutzero8825@gmail.com> - 2011-12-19 15:57 -0600
                  Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2011-12-19 19:30 -0500
                    Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Andrew Berg <bahamutzero8825@gmail.com> - 2011-12-19 19:41 -0600
                  Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2011-12-19 19:38 -0800
                    Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Andrew Berg <bahamutzero8825@gmail.com> - 2011-12-19 22:04 -0600
                    Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-20 20:51 +0000
              Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2011-12-18 20:00 -0700
                Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-19 03:36 +0000
        Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-18 06:35 -0800
          Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Evan Driscoll <edriscoll@wisc.edu> - 2011-12-18 14:20 -0600
            Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2011-12-18 18:23 -0800
              Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-19 15:35 +1100
                Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2011-12-19 19:31 -0800
                  Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-20 15:10 +1100
              Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-19 02:15 -0800
                Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2011-12-19 19:30 -0800
                  Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-24 06:39 -0800
                    Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2011-12-24 16:24 -0800
                      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Rick Johnson <rantingrickjohnson@gmail.com> - 2011-12-24 17:01 -0800
                        Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-25 06:45 -0800
                    Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-25 13:12 +0000
                      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-25 07:38 -0800
                        Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-26 03:23 +1100
                          Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-26 12:58 -0800
                            Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-27 08:05 +1100
                              Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-26 14:12 -0800
                                Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-27 09:37 +1100
                        Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-25 17:05 +0000
                          Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-26 13:41 -0800
                            Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-27 22:57 +0000
                              Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-28 03:57 -0800
          Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Rick Johnson <rantingrickjohnson@gmail.com> - 2011-12-18 17:04 -0800
        Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Rick Johnson <rantingrickjohnson@gmail.com> - 2011-12-18 16:59 -0800
          Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-19 02:20 -0800
            Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2011-12-19 19:35 -0800
              Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-20 05:47 +0000
                Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2011-12-19 22:39 -0800
                Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Serhiy Storchaka <storchaka@gmail.com> - 2011-12-20 11:58 +0200
                Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-24 06:45 -0800
                  Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-25 02:01 +1100
                    Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-24 09:23 -0800
                      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-25 04:51 +1100
                  Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-25 12:50 +0000
                    Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-25 06:59 -0800
              Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-24 06:41 -0800
            Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Neal Becker <ndbecker2@gmail.com> - 2011-12-21 10:48 -0500
              Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-24 06:47 -0800
                Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-25 01:57 +1100
                  Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-24 09:21 -0800
                Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-25 13:13 +0000
                  Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-25 07:47 -0800
                    Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-27 23:10 +0000
                      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Rick Johnson <rantingrickjohnson@gmail.com> - 2011-12-27 17:11 -0800
                        Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-28 04:05 -0800
                      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-28 15:06 +1100
                        Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-28 06:25 +0000
                          Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-28 18:08 +1100
                            Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-28 04:08 -0800
                              Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Lie Ryan <lie.1296@gmail.com> - 2011-12-29 09:29 +1100
                                Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-29 03:55 -0800
                                  Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-29 13:23 +0000
                                    Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-29 06:20 -0800
                                    Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Lie Ryan <lie.1296@gmail.com> - 2011-12-30 10:24 +1100
                                    Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-30 10:30 +1100
            Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Ethan Furman <ethan@stoneleaf.us> - 2011-12-21 08:33 -0800
      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Evan Driscoll <edriscoll@wisc.edu> - 2011-12-17 23:54 -0600
      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-18 06:23 -0800
      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Rick Johnson <rantingrickjohnson@gmail.com> - 2011-12-18 16:57 -0800
    Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Neal Becker <ndbecker2@gmail.com> - 2011-12-22 06:49 -0500
      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-22 13:12 +0000
        Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-23 00:30 +1100
        Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Hans Mulder <hansmu@xs4all.nl> - 2011-12-22 15:13 +0100
          Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-23 01:30 +1100
            Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Mel Wilson <mwilson@the-wire.com> - 2011-12-22 10:06 -0500
        Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-24 06:54 -0800
          Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-25 12:45 +0000
            Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-25 06:55 -0800
              Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-25 16:15 +0000
                Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-26 12:39 -0800
                  Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-27 08:01 +1100
                    Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-26 13:51 -0800
                      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-27 09:27 +1100
                        Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-26 15:44 -0800
                          Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2011-12-27 11:52 +1100
                            Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-27 02:01 -0800
                              Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2012-01-02 18:38 -0800
                                Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Rick Johnson <rantingrickjohnson@gmail.com> - 2012-01-02 21:39 -0800
                                  Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2012-01-02 23:01 -0800
                                Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2012-01-03 03:21 -0800
                      Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2011-12-27 23:07 +0000
                        Re: Pythonification of the asterisk-based collection packing/unpacking syntax Eelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com> - 2011-12-28 04:04 -0800

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#18381

Fromalex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com>
Date2012-01-02 23:01 -0800
Message-ID<abcf2fc8-a71f-4e27-98c2-53987304705b@l18g2000pro.googlegroups.com>
In reply to#18374
On Jan 3, 3:39 pm, Rick Johnson <rantingrickjohn...@gmail.com> wrote:
> It's NOT a fork Alex. It IS in fact the next logical step in Python's
> future evolution.

Link to the repo please, or STFU.

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#18393

FromEelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com>
Date2012-01-03 03:21 -0800
Message-ID<ba8db47b-1098-4f5d-b250-9b1b2ba5b393@k28g2000yqn.googlegroups.com>
In reply to#18366
On Jan 3, 3:38 am, alex23 <wuwe...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Dec 27 2011, 8:01 pm, Eelco <hoogendoorn.ee...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > But I consider it a reasonable change for a
> > 'python 4', or whatever the next major version change will be called.
>
> You do realise there were 8 years between 2 & 3? You might be waiting
> for quite some time.

Yes, I realize this discussion is quite theoretical in nature. Some of
the more 'emotionally engaged' participants might do well to keep that
in mind as well.

> Conversely, you could pitch in behind Rick Johnson's Python 4000 fork,
> I sure it's progressing nicely given how long Rick has been talking it
> up.

Would you be so kind as to leave your personal feuds at the door?

> > Writing a code-conversion tool to convert from *args to args::tuple
> > would be quite easy indeed.
>
> You might want to ask people maintaining libraries in both 2.x & 3.x
> via 2to3 just how well that's working out for them. If the impact of
> changes was trivially obvious, the programming landscape would look
> very different indeed.

Of course if a conversion tool falters on even a single construct,
automated conversion is not going to be reliable, and thats going to
be a pain. But whatever python 4 will be like, its not going to be
backwards compatible by definition; and at least I dont think this
proposed change will contribute to the trouble of conversion between
the two. It is really quite a superficial syntax tweak.

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#18075

FromSteven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info>
Date2011-12-27 23:07 +0000
Message-ID<4efa4fab$0$29973$c3e8da3$5496439d@news.astraweb.com>
In reply to#17983
On Mon, 26 Dec 2011 13:51:50 -0800, Eelco wrote:
[...]
>> If your point is that parens are used more often than
>> packing/unpacking, that's almost certainly true, since function calls
>> (including method invocations) are so prevalent in pretty much any
>> code. But what does that prove?
> 
> That proves the original point of contention: that the below* is
> suboptimal language design, 

Well duh.

I was mocking the idea that the meaning of * is context-dependent is a 
bad thing by pointing out that we accept context-dependent meaning for 
round brackets () without any difficulties. Of course it is "suboptimal 
language design" -- it couldn't fail to be. Context-dependency is not 
necessarily a bad thing.


> not because terseness always trumps
> verbosity, but because commonly-used constructs (such as parenthesis or
> round brackets or whatever you wish to call them) 

Parentheses are not a construct. They are symbols (punctuation marks) 
which are applied to at least three different constructs: grouping, 
function calls, class inheritance lists.


> are more deserving of
> the limited space in both the ascii table and your reflexive memory,
> than uncommonly used ones.

Right. And since sequence packing and unpacking is a common idiom, it 
deserves to be given punctuation. That's my opinion.


-- 
Steven

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#18117

FromEelco <hoogendoorn.eelco@gmail.com>
Date2011-12-28 04:04 -0800
Message-ID<e344688a-0777-4232-b80c-92941b07780f@q11g2000vbq.googlegroups.com>
In reply to#18075
On Dec 28, 12:07 am, Steven D'Aprano <steve
+comp.lang.pyt...@pearwood.info> wrote:
> On Mon, 26 Dec 2011 13:51:50 -0800, Eelco wrote:
>
> [...]
>
> >> If your point is that parens are used more often than
> >> packing/unpacking, that's almost certainly true, since function calls
> >> (including method invocations) are so prevalent in pretty much any
> >> code. But what does that prove?
>
> > That proves the original point of contention: that the below* is
> > suboptimal language design,
>
> Well duh.

This is where the referee should interrupt you for snipping someones
citation right before a 'but'

> I was mocking the idea that the meaning of * is context-dependent is a
> bad thing by pointing out that we accept context-dependent meaning for
> round brackets () without any difficulties. Of course it is "suboptimal
> language design" -- it couldn't fail to be. Context-dependency is not
> necessarily a bad thing.

You know, so you dont end up simply restating my point while trying to
make it seem like you disagree.

> > not because terseness always trumps
> > verbosity, but because commonly-used constructs (such as parenthesis or
> > round brackets or whatever you wish to call them)
>
> Parentheses are not a construct. They are symbols (punctuation marks)
> which are applied to at least three different constructs: grouping,
> function calls, class inheritance lists.

Parenthesis encompass a class of constructs. Happy now?

> > are more deserving of
> > the limited space in both the ascii table and your reflexive memory,
> > than uncommonly used ones.
>
> Right. And since sequence packing and unpacking is a common idiom, it
> deserves to be given punctuation. That's my opinion.

Its a valid opinion. But if we are going to be quantitative about
terms such as 'common', you know that there will be at least an order
of magnitude difference between these constructs in commonality, if
not two. Thats what makes your example a poor one. If you could
verbosify a construct of the same commonality and arrive at equally
absurd code, you would have a point.

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