Chris Angelico wrote: > The trouble with that is that you can't always use a dict subclass (or > a non-subclass MutableMapping implementation, etc, etc, etc). There > are MANY situations in which Python will give you an actual real dict, > and it defeats the purpose if you then have to construct an > AddableDict out of it just so you can add something to it. Not every > proposed change makes sense on PyPI, and it definitely won't get a > fair representation in "practical experience".
Chris seems to accept that sometimes you can use a dict subclass, and that my proposal will give some representation of "practical experience". Even if not perfect, such benefits are I think worth having. And Chris gives no evidence (or examples) beyond his own assertions, that my proposal would not produce a fair representation of practical experience. Why don't we just try it and see. This would engage us with the users. And it would, as I suggested, clarify and document the syntax and semantics. And provide backporting to current versions of Python. By the way, in "Masterminds of Programming" [page 20], Guido gives four lines of defence against the unwise addition of a "favorite feature" to the language. They are [1] Explain to people that they can already do what they want. [2] Tell them to write their own module or class to encapsulate the feature. [3] Accept the feature, as pure Python, in the standard library. [4] Accept the feature as a C-Python extension standard. And [4] is, in Guido's words > the last line of defense before we have to admit [...] > this is so useful [...] so we'll have to change the language I think the pure Python implementation is important. If the supporters of this proposal are not willing to provide this, then I will (along with anyone else who volunteers). http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9780596515171.do # Masterminds of Programming -- Jonathan _______________________________________________ Python-ideas mailing list Python-ideas@python.org https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-ideas Code of Conduct: http://python.org/psf/codeofconduct/
