Steven D'Aprano <st...@pearwood.info> added the comment: Mark wrote: >> Also, why not just extend the Decimal() constructor to accept >> a float as the argument? Why have a separate from_float() >> method at all? > > This was discussed extensively when the decimal module was > being proposed; see the Decimal PEP for arguments against this.
I'm very aware of that. The Decimal PEP says the consensus was for from_float() to take a second argument specifying the precision. Decimal(1.1) => Decimal("1.1") was rejected for the reasons given in the PEP by Paul Moore, and Decimal(1.1) => Decimal('110000000000000008881784197001252...e-51') was (presumably) rejected because it would confuse newbies. Hence the decision to (1) make an alternative constructor and (2) have it take a second argument. It looks like you and Raymond have rejected #2 but are keeping #1, and I'm curious why. That's genuine curiosity, and a real question, not a thinly-veiled scowl of disapproval disguised as a question :) Anyway, I'm happy enough so long as Raymond's suggested Context.create_decimal() exists, that's the actual functionality I'm after, so maybe I should let you guys get on with it. Thanks. _______________________________________ Python tracker <rep...@bugs.python.org> <http://bugs.python.org/issue4796> _______________________________________ _______________________________________________ Python-bugs-list mailing list Unsubscribe: http://mail.python.org/mailman/options/python-bugs-list/archive%40mail-archive.com