>> 2) Since this is an introductory class, I am tempted to leave out >> "optional" topics like argument matching modes, walk, map, filter, >> reduce, apply. Do you think these are required for any Python >> programmer? >> > Since many of there will disappear in Python 3 it might be OK to omit > them. OTOH for those of us who come from languages like APL, these > constructs are dear to our hearts.
Hi Elaine, More generally: the "function is as first-class value" is a fundamental concept. I'm not sure when that concept should be introduced, but it definitely belongs in an introductory programming course. If one looks at code like this: if input == 'a': doA() elif input == 'b': doB() ... if we know that functions are avlues, we can reconsider it as: dispatchTable = { 'a' : doA, 'b' : doB, ... } dispatchTable[input]() Other textbooks have covered this ground; you may want to look at them for inspriation. Here's my favorite one now (it's not Python, but it's good stuff.): http://www.htdp.org/ _______________________________________________ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor