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Re: generator/coroutine terminology

References <ff0bc8eb-63e4-40ea-8d31-301625a3d470@googlegroups.com> <5501be8b$0$13006$c3e8da3$5496439d@news.astraweb.com> <ccd600f8-672e-4993-adb8-d007b521a110@googlegroups.com>
From Oscar Benjamin <oscar.j.benjamin@gmail.com>
Date 2015-03-14 22:02 +0000
Subject Re: generator/coroutine terminology
Newsgroups comp.lang.python
Message-ID <mailman.376.1426370550.21433.python-list@python.org> (permalink)

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On 12 March 2015 at 16:52, Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> On Thursday, March 12, 2015 at 9:58:07 PM UTC+5:30, Steven D'Aprano wrote:
>> Rustom Mody wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > Say I have a simple yielding function:
>> >
>> > def foo(x):
>> >    yield x+1
>> >    yield x+2
>> >
>> > And I have
>> >
>> > g = foo(2)
>> >
>> > If I look at type, g's type is 'generator' whereas foo is just plain-ol
>> > 'function.'
>> >
>> > Whereas in informal usage we say foo is a generator.
>>
>> Hopefully it is clear from context what we actually mean. When in doubt, we
>> should be explicit.
>
> There is a very important 'context' where both have to exist together -- teaching beginners.

It is definitely important to draw the distinction between a generator
function and a generator in teaching. I would use distinct terminology
in any case. It's also important where possible to use the same
terminology as is used in the various different sources of
documentation that your students will encounter so inventing a new
term like "generator factory" is probably a bad idea.

> foo's are written to produce g's. g's come from foo-like.
>
> Better naming would help clarify -- your 'factory' is the best Ive seen so far.

I dislike the term "generator factory". To me it suggests something
like foo below:

def baz():
    yield 4

def bar():
    yield 6
    yield 7

def foo(x):
    if x > 4:
        return baz()
    else:
        return bar()

The existing terminology seems fine to me: A generator function is a
special kind of function containing a yield statement that always
returns a generator. A generator expression is a special kind of
expression that evaluates to a generator. A generator is a special
type of iterator that results from generator functions and generator
expressions.

> But the docs?!?! Hoo Boy My head spins trying to grok this
> https://docs.python.org/3/reference/expressions.html#generator-expressions
> And thats after being familiar with the origins of the idea in
> scheme/simula/CLU etc.

Perhaps the docs can be improved. I wouldn't recommend that particular
page to anyone who wasn't already familiar with the subject though.


Oscar

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generator/coroutine terminology Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2015-03-12 06:35 -0700
  Re: generator/coroutine terminology Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-03-13 00:55 +1100
  Re: generator/coroutine terminology breamoreboy@gmail.com - 2015-03-12 06:57 -0700
  Re: generator/coroutine terminology Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2015-03-13 03:27 +1100
    Re: generator/coroutine terminology Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2015-03-12 09:52 -0700
      Re: generator/coroutine terminology Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-03-12 19:55 +0200
        Re: generator/coroutine terminology Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2015-03-12 19:23 -0700
          Re: generator/coroutine terminology Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2015-03-13 14:30 +1100
            Re: generator/coroutine terminology Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2015-03-12 22:28 -0700
              Re: generator/coroutine terminology Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-03-13 19:23 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2015-03-13 02:12 -0700
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-03-13 11:36 +0200
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2015-03-14 17:04 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-03-14 09:54 +0200
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2015-03-14 08:04 +0000
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-03-14 10:30 +0200
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-03-14 14:14 -0600
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2015-03-14 21:15 -0700
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2015-03-14 20:31 +0000
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2015-03-14 08:29 -0700
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-03-15 02:56 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2015-03-14 08:59 -0700
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-03-15 03:14 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2015-03-14 09:33 -0700
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-03-15 03:51 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2015-03-14 10:17 -0700
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2015-03-14 16:56 +0000
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Dave Angel <davea@davea.name> - 2015-03-14 13:07 -0400
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology albert@spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2015-03-31 12:57 +0000
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2015-03-15 19:37 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology CHIN Dihedral <dihedral88888@gmail.com> - 2015-04-18 11:07 -0700
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-03-13 22:32 +1100
      Re: generator/coroutine terminology Oscar Benjamin <oscar.j.benjamin@gmail.com> - 2015-03-14 22:02 +0000
        Re: generator/coroutine terminology Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-03-15 00:15 +0200
          Re: generator/coroutine terminology Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-03-15 09:24 +1100
            Re: generator/coroutine terminology Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-03-15 02:15 +0200
              Re: generator/coroutine terminology Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-03-15 11:22 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-03-15 02:48 +0200
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-03-15 13:02 +1100
              Re: generator/coroutine terminology Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2015-03-16 12:03 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-03-16 09:12 +0200
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-03-16 18:21 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-03-16 09:40 +0200
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2015-03-16 22:59 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-03-16 01:37 -0600
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-03-16 09:52 +0200
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2015-03-16 23:02 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-03-16 14:42 +0200
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Jonas Wielicki <jonas@wielicki.name> - 2015-03-16 13:39 +0100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2015-03-16 19:36 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-03-16 19:58 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2015-03-16 22:51 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-03-17 00:16 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-03-16 14:32 +0200
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2015-03-16 05:51 -0700
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-03-16 15:13 +0200
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2015-03-17 01:32 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-03-16 08:45 -0600
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2015-03-17 00:39 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2015-03-16 07:19 -0700
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2015-03-16 14:26 +0000
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2015-03-16 07:37 -0700
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2015-03-16 07:55 -0700
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2015-03-16 18:19 +0000
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2015-03-16 19:52 -0700
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2015-03-17 03:07 +0000
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2015-03-16 20:18 -0700
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2015-03-17 03:25 +0000
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Rustom Mody <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2015-03-16 20:33 -0700
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2015-03-17 03:55 +0000
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Mario Figueiredo <marfig@gmail.com> - 2015-03-17 04:22 +0100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2015-03-17 01:35 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2015-03-17 01:36 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-03-16 08:52 -0600
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-03-16 17:09 +0200
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-03-16 09:26 -0600
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-03-16 18:05 +0200
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology albert@spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2015-03-31 13:18 +0000
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Dave Angel <davea@davea.name> - 2015-03-31 09:38 -0400
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology albert@spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2015-03-31 15:03 +0000
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-04-01 02:36 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2015-04-03 17:02 +1100
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology albert@spenarnc.xs4all.nl (Albert van der Horst) - 2015-04-18 17:52 +0000
                Re: generator/coroutine terminology Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2015-04-02 23:46 -0700
  Re: generator/coroutine terminology Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> - 2015-03-12 16:11 -0400
    Re: generator/coroutine terminology Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-03-12 22:22 +0200

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