Path: csiph.com!v102.xanadu-bbs.net!xanadu-bbs.net!feeder.erje.net!eu.feeder.erje.net!feeds.phibee-telecom.net!newsfeed.xs4all.nl!newsfeed4a.news.xs4all.nl!xs4all!post.news.xs4all.nl!not-for-mail
MIME-Version: 1.0
In-Reply-To: <544C48B4.6020107@gmail.com>
References: <54476af8$0$21651$426a74cc@news.free.fr> <7839376e-fc27-4299-ae63-4ddf17ef9a8a@googlegroups.com> <m27skn$2e2$1@ger.gmane.org> <mailman.15062.1413971583.18130.python-list@python.org> <carc00FdrboU1@mid.individual.net> <544C48B4.6020107@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 12:20:04 +1100
Subject: Re: (test) ? a:b
From: Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com>
Cc: "python-list@python.org" <python-list@python.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Precedence: list
Newsgroups: comp.lang.python
Message-ID: <mailman.15186.1414286413.18130.python-list@python.org>
Lines: 24
NNTP-Posting-Host: 2001:888:2000:d::a6
Xref: csiph.com comp.lang.python:79700

On Sun, Oct 26, 2014 at 12:04 PM, Michael Torrie <torriem@gmail.com> wrote:
> But you can run
> into trouble if you tried to use a common python idiom like this:
>
> x = read_some_lines() 'returns number of lines read, or zero if none are
> if not x:
>         print ("I couldn't read any lines")
>         exit(1)
>
> Basically any value other than -1 for x would cause the not x to be
> true.

So don't use Python idioms in BASIC. :) Back when I used to write
BASIC code, I'd do explicit comparisons with zero for this sort of
thing... these days, I'd use Python idioms, but I'd also write Python
code :)

I think it's indicative that the BASIC code I'm most proud of was
consciously getting around language limitations (I wrote a mess of
code in assembly language and Q-BASIC to allow my programs to use the
mouse), but the Python code I'm most proud of is using the language's
strengths.

ChrisA