Re: Objects in Python

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Date	2012-08-23 12:02 +1000
Subject	Re: Objects in Python
From	Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com>
Newsgroups	comp.lang.python
Message-ID	<mailman.3691.1345687339.4697.python-list@python.org> (permalink)

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On Thu, Aug 23, 2012 at 5:03 AM, lipska the kat
<lipskathekat@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> On 22/08/12 19:15, Ian Kelly wrote:
>>
>> You're conflating "strong typing" with "static typing".  Strong typing
>> does not refer to restrictions on what type of data can be stored
>> where, but to restrictions on how operations on that data can be
>> intermixed.
>
> Yes of course I am, thank you for pointing that out.
> I don't know why I have this overwhelming need to see variables explicitly
> defined ... years of 'same old same old' I suppose.

Python's object model is not fundamentally incompatible with a system
of declared variables. I, too, like declaring my variables explicitly.
There are quite a few advantages to it:

1) Scoping is extremely clear. (Leaving aside anomalous behaviour like
Javascript's "var" declarations applying to a whole function.) You see
a declaration, you know that variable exists there and further inside
only. In a C-style language, that means it disappears at the
corresponding close brace.

2) Related to the above, you can infinitely nest scopes. There's
nothing wrong with having six variables called 'q'; you always use the
innermost one. Yes, this can hurt readability, especially taken to
this sort of stupid extreme, but that's a question for a style guide
and not a language design.

3) Variable-name typos can be caught at parse time. In Python, if you
misspell a variable, you've just made a new local variable.

It has its downsides, too, of course; mainly that it's (in some
people's opinion) syntactic salt. Why should I have to tell the
interpreter/compiler what it can figure out by itself? It's
duplicating information, and that's inefficient. It's like forcing all
your integer constants to be given in both decimal and hex, to catch
errors.

I'm of the opinion that the benefits are worth the effort. Others
disagree. It's hugely a matter of taste, and I'm just glad that there
are enough languages around that we can all have what we want :)

If you like the Python object model but want to add variable
declarations, grab me off list and I'll tell you about my personal
favorite language...

ChrisA

Thread

Objects in Python shaun <shaun.wiseman91@gmail.com> - 2012-08-22 07:13 -0700
  Re: Objects in Python Joel Goldstick <joel.goldstick@gmail.com> - 2012-08-22 10:31 -0400
  Re: Objects in Python Jussi Piitulainen <jpiitula@ling.helsinki.fi> - 2012-08-22 17:31 +0300
  Re: Objects in Python Peter Otten <__peter__@web.de> - 2012-08-22 16:36 +0200
  Re: Objects in Python lipska the kat <lipskathekat@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-22 15:59 +0100
    Re: Objects in Python MRAB <python@mrabarnett.plus.com> - 2012-08-22 16:58 +0100
      Re: Objects in Python lipska the kat <lipskathekat@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-22 17:10 +0100
        Re: Objects in Python Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-22 17:30 +0100
          Re: Objects in Python lipska the kat <lipskathekat@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-22 18:06 +0100
            Re: Objects in Python Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-22 19:07 +0100
              Re: Objects in Python lipska the kat <lipskathekat@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-22 20:13 +0100
    Re: Objects in Python Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> - 2012-08-22 13:01 -0400
      Re: Objects in Python lipska the kat <lipskathekat@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-22 18:46 +0100
        Re: Objects in Python Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2012-08-22 12:15 -0600
          Re: Objects in Python lipska the kat <lipskathekat@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-22 20:03 +0100
            Re: Objects in Python Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-08-23 12:02 +1000
              Re: Objects in Python Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-08-23 04:11 +0000
                Re: Objects in Python Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-08-23 15:26 +1000
                Re: Objects in Python Jan Kuiken <jan.kuiken@quicknet.nl> - 2012-08-23 20:02 +0200
                Re: Objects in Python Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2012-08-23 12:17 -0600
                Re: Objects in Python Jan Kuiken <jan.kuiken@quicknet.nl> - 2012-08-23 22:43 +0200
                Re: Objects in Python 88888 Dihedral <dihedral88888@googlemail.com> - 2012-08-25 23:14 -0700
        Re: Objects in Python Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-22 19:23 +0100
        Re: Re: Objects in Python Evan Driscoll <driscoll@cs.wisc.edu> - 2012-08-22 14:03 -0500
          Re: Objects in Python lipska the kat <lipskathekat@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-22 20:45 +0100
            Re: Objects in Python MRAB <python@mrabarnett.plus.com> - 2012-08-22 21:31 +0100
            Re: Objects in Python Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-22 21:46 +0100
              Methods versus functions [was Re: Objects in Python] Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-08-23 04:07 +0000
            Re: Re: Objects in Python Evan Driscoll <driscoll@cs.wisc.edu> - 2012-08-22 16:31 -0500
              Re: Objects in Python lipska the kat <lipskathekat@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-23 10:19 +0100
                Re: Re: Objects in Python Evan Driscoll <driscoll@cs.wisc.edu> - 2012-08-23 11:44 -0500
                Re: Objects in Python lipska the kat <lipskathekat@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-23 18:56 +0100
        Re: Objects in Python Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2012-08-23 09:58 +1000
          Re: Objects in Python Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2012-08-22 18:10 -0600
          Re: Re: Objects in Python Evan Driscoll <driscoll@cs.wisc.edu> - 2012-08-22 23:49 -0500
            Re: Objects in Python Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-08-23 06:55 +0000
              Re: Objects in Python Jussi Piitulainen <jpiitula@ling.helsinki.fi> - 2012-08-23 11:59 +0300
                Re: Objects in Python MRAB <python@mrabarnett.plus.com> - 2012-08-23 12:28 +0100
                Re: Objects in Python Jerry Hill <malaclypse2@gmail.com> - 2012-08-23 10:43 -0400
                Re: Objects in Python Evan Driscoll <driscoll@cs.wisc.edu> - 2012-08-23 12:17 -0500
                Re: Objects in Python Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-08-23 17:56 +0000
                Variables vs names [was: Objects in Python] Evan Driscoll <driscoll@cs.wisc.edu> - 2012-08-23 14:22 -0500
                Re: Variables vs names Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2012-08-24 10:02 +1000
                Re: Variables vs names [was: Objects in Python] Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-08-25 02:05 +0000
                Re: Variables vs names Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2012-08-25 15:24 +1000
                Re: Objects in Python Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-08-24 08:00 +1000
                Re: Objects in Python Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-08-25 03:04 +0000
                Re: Objects in Python Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-08-25 16:34 +1000
                Re: Objects in Python Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-25 09:55 +0100
                Re: Objects in Python Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-08-25 20:23 +1000
                Re: Objects in Python Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-25 12:01 +0100
                Re: Objects in Python Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> - 2012-08-25 15:56 -0400
                Re: Objects in Python Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-08-26 09:27 +1000
                Re: Objects in Python Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> - 2012-08-25 20:43 -0400
                Re: Re: Objects in Python Evan Driscoll <driscoll@cs.wisc.edu> - 2012-08-26 00:25 -0500
                Re: Variables vs names [was: Objects in Python] Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-08-24 09:34 +1000
                Re: Objects in Python Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2012-08-24 09:49 +1000
                Re: Variables vs names [was: Objects in Python] Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> - 2012-08-23 19:52 -0400
                Re: Objects in Python Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> - 2012-08-23 19:54 -0400
                Re: Objects in Python Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-08-24 10:01 +1000
                Re: Objects in Python Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> - 2012-08-23 13:17 -0400
            Re: Objects in Python Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2012-08-24 00:16 +1000
            Re: Objects in Python Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2012-08-23 20:36 -0400
              Re: Objects in Python Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-08-24 11:34 +1000
                Re: Objects in Python alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2012-08-23 20:17 -0700
                Re: Re: Objects in Python Evan Driscoll <driscoll@cs.wisc.edu> - 2012-08-24 04:14 -0500
                Re: Objects in Python Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-08-24 10:00 +0000
                Re: Objects in Python Grant Edwards <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2012-08-24 13:27 +0000
                Re: Objects in Python Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-08-25 05:18 +1000
                Re: Re: Objects in Python Evan Driscoll <driscoll@cs.wisc.edu> - 2012-08-26 00:45 -0500
                Re: Objects in Python Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-08-26 13:43 +0000
                Re: Objects in Python Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-08-26 23:58 +1000
                Re: Objects in Python Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-08-26 14:18 +0000
                Re: Objects in Python Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-08-27 00:54 +1000
                Re: Objects in Python Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-08-26 22:47 +0000
                Re: Objects in Python Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2012-08-26 10:02 -0400
                Re: Objects in Python Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-08-27 00:14 +1000
                Re: Objects in Python Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> - 2012-08-26 16:12 -0400
                Re: Objects in Python Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-08-26 23:29 +0000
                Re: Re: Objects in Python Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-08-26 16:22 +1000
                Re: Objects in Python Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-08-26 12:02 +0000
                Re: Objects in Python Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-08-26 23:34 +1000
                Re: Objects in Python Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-26 15:02 +0100
                Re: Objects in Python Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-08-27 00:05 +1000
                Re: Objects in Python Roy Smith <roy@panix.com> - 2012-08-26 09:41 -0400
              Identity function id() [was Re: Objects in Python] Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-08-24 10:06 +0000
          Re: Re: Objects in Python Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-08-23 15:33 +1000
          Re: Objects in Python Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> - 2012-08-23 14:30 -0400
            Re: Objects in Python Alexander Blinne <news@blinne.net> - 2012-08-24 15:23 +0200
          Re: Objects in Python Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2012-08-24 09:38 +0200
          Re: Objects in Python Antoon Pardon <antoon.pardon@rece.vub.ac.be> - 2012-08-24 10:03 +0200
        Re: Objects in Python Walter Hurry <walterhurry@lavabit.com> - 2012-08-23 01:19 +0000
          Re: Objects in Python Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-08-23 04:14 +0000
            Re: Objects in Python lipska the kat <lipskathekat@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-23 09:10 +0100
              Re: Objects in Python Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2012-08-23 23:59 +1000
                Re: Objects in Python lipska the kat <lipskathekat@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-23 15:20 +0100
                Re: Objects in Python Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2012-08-24 00:24 +1000
          Re: Objects in Python lipska the kat <lipskathekat@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-23 09:03 +0100
        Re: Objects in Python Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-08-23 04:34 +0000
          Re: Objects in Python rusi <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2012-08-23 10:04 -0700
  Re: Objects in Python John Gordon <gordon@panix.com> - 2012-08-22 15:03 +0000
  Re: Objects in Python shaun <shaun.wiseman91@gmail.com> - 2012-08-22 08:25 -0700
    Re: Objects in Python Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-08-23 01:47 +1000
    Re: Objects in Python Dave Angel <d@davea.name> - 2012-08-22 11:51 -0400
    Re: Objects in Python Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-08-22 17:13 +0100
    Re: Objects in Python Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2012-08-22 11:29 -0600

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