Antoon Pardon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > 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,
By who? > 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. Sometimes, such things are easy to explain, and they'll generally get that explanation. Sometimes they aren't, so you're reduced to pointing out similar - but more obvious - things that aren't in the language, and "import this", and suggesting that they try it for a while and see how it works >> 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" That's essentially true. In some cases, the reasons can be explained without understanding about python. In some cases, they can't. > 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". You're carrying things a step to far, going from explaining an overly brief statement to imagining a motive for said statement. <mike -- Mike Meyer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.mired.org/home/mwm/ Independent WWW/Perforce/FreeBSD/Unix consultant, email for more information. -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list