Thank you all for your posts. I'm busy now and for the next few days, so
have little time to respond. Here's some comments and suggestions.
I hope that Andras, Caleb, Stefano, Neil, Joao Bueno, Todd and Stephan will
take a special interest in this post. In the previous thread, these people
saw that the proposed new syntax
d[1, 2, a=3, b=4]
would bring benefits to their own particular use of Python. (Apologies for
any omitted names or misunderstanding of posts).
I hope the package kwkey shows that it is possible now to write
from kwkey import o
d[o(1, 2, a=3, b=4)]
as a workable present day substitute for the proposed syntax
d[1, 2, a=3, b=4]
I think using this can safely go ahead, even though there may be
disagreements on the meaning of 'o' and the implementation of classes that
take advantage of the new syntax. Indeed, I think going ahead now will
contribute to understanding and resolving the disagreements, by creating a
shared experience.
I suggest that those who previously suggested uses for the proposed syntax
now implement some examples. (I give a list below.) They can do this using
my API, Steven's API, or any other API. Or indeed now, using the return
value of 'o' directly.
I've started this process with a toy example:
https://github.com/jfine2358/python-kwkey/blob/master/kwkey/example_jfine.py
Here are three aspects to the proposed syntax. They are all important, and
good design will balance between the various parts and interests.
First, ordinary programmers, who perhaps want
d[1, 2]
d[x=1, y=2]
d[1, y=2]
d[y=2, x=1]
to all be equivalent, for d a mapping of whose domain is points in the x-y
plane. More complicated examples might be found in function annotations
(Andras Tantos, Caleb Donovick), quantum chemistry (Stefano Borini),
networkx (Neil Girdhar), numpy and pandas (Joao Bueno), xarrary (Todd,
Stephan Hoyer).
Second, there are those who implement classes that make use of the proposed
syntax.
Third, there are those who implement the extension of Python that allows
d[o(1, 2, a=3, b=4)]
to be replaced by
d[1, 2, 3, 4]
I suggest that those who see benefits in feature produce experimental
implementations via kwkey, just as I did in my kwkey.example_jfine. It is
possible to do this now, and so have benefits now, in a way that is
reasonably future proof regarding implementation of the proposed new syntax.
If you're a user of kwkey, I will have some time available to help you if
you want it.
I hope this helps some, and harms none.
--
Jonathan
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