[Python-ideas] __missing__ object/keyword

[Greg Ewing]

Bruce Leban wrote:

> However, there is an implementation complication due to the way variable 
> scoping works in Python: if a variable is left unbound in the function 
> locals, then references to that variable name would pick up the global 
> if it exists

No, it wouldn't:

Python 2.3 (#1, Aug  5 2003, 15:52:30)
[GCC 3.1 20020420 (prerelease)] on darwin
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
 >>> def f():
...  print x
...  x = 0
...
 >>> f()
Traceback (most recent call last):
   File "<stdin>", line 1, in ?
   File "<stdin>", line 2, in f
UnboundLocalError: local variable 'x' referenced before assignment

Python already has the machinery to make this work. All
that's needed is a way to leave parameters unbound, and
a syntax for asking "Would I get a NameError if I were to
refer to this name now?"

Perhaps something like

   def f(x?):
     if x?:
       ...

-- 
Greg