[Python-Dev] Pragma-style declaration syntax

[Guido van Rossum]

> I've been tossing some ideas around w/r to adding pragma style
> declarations to Python and would like to hear what you think
> about these:
> 
> 1. Embed pragma declarations in comments:
> 
> 	#pragma: name = value
> 
>    Problem: comments are removed by the tokenizer, yet the compiler
>    will have to make use of them, so some logic would be needed
>    to carry them along.
> 
> 2. Reusing a Python keyword to build a new form of statement:
> 
> 	def name = value
> 
>    Problem: not sure whether the compiler and grammar could handle
>    this.
> 
>    The nice thing about this kind of declaration is that it would
>    generate a node which the compiler could actively use. Furthermore,
>    scoping would come for free. This one is my favourite.
> 
> 3. Add a new keyword:
> 
> 	decl name = value
> 
>    Problem: possible code breakage.
> 
> This is only a question regarding the syntax of these meta-
> information declarations. The semantics remain to be solved
> in a different discussion.

I say add a new reserved word pragma and accept the consequences.  The
other solutions are just too ugly.

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.pythonlabs.com/~guido/)