Op 2005-11-24, Mike Meyer schreef <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > Antoon Pardon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >>> The usual response is "That's not the Python way." That's not calling >>> someone dumb, just pointing out that they don't yet fully understand >>> the Python way. >> "That is not the Python way", is just saying "Python doesn't have it" >> in other words. So it can't be the answer to why python can't have >> something. > > No, it isn't. At least, it isn't when I use it. A language is more > than just an accumulation of features. Well, a good language is more > than just an accumulation of features - there's a philosophy > underlying the language, that guides what features are added and what > features aren't. Other languages have other philosophies, and wind up > being good for other things.
But how this philosophy influences design is not straight forward. The ternary operator was thought of to go against the philosopy, and now seems to be at least compatible with the philosophy. So when someone asks why it is not in python, saying "It is not the python way" still doesn't answer the question, because the person would probably still like to know what in his proposal is against the python philosophy and why. > When I say "That's not the Python way", I mean that such a feature > runs counter to my vision of Python's underlying philosophy. Fine, but it would help if you could support this with arguments or at least give an explanation of why you think this is so. > My vision > isn't perfect - I've changed my mind about things: I used to want real > macros, and I initially disliked list comprehensions. My vision > doesn't agree with the developers - notably including Guido's - a lot > of the time. On the other hand, they haven't done anything that > strikes me as so wrong that I want to spend the time required working > on Python rather than in Python to allow me to get it fixed. I see nothing wrong with that. But I would apreciate it, should you be more open about something being your personal vision. To me something like: "That is not the python way" comes accross as: "You just don't understand about python, if you ask/propose something like that" It gives me the feeling the person is saying something like: "Python is like this, I like it this way, so nobody better suggests this changes". -- Antoon Pardon -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
