On Tue, Jul 09, 2002 at 08:14:38AM -0400, François Pinard wrote:
This is all clear to me, except for one little thing. I wonder why class `ifile' has an `__iter__' method itself. I know it is said to be the "iterator protocol", and I wonder why it has to be.
I don't like it either. In my previous message about the language 'Mamba' in an alternative universe I have an example of an alternative: if object has a tp_iter it is called, otherwise the object must have a tp_next.
My understanding is that `__iter__' returns an iterator all ready to be enquired a number of times through `.next()' calls, and I presume that if any re-initialisation has to take place, it is within `__iter__'. However, as the iterator maintains its own progressive state, I do not see the intent and purpose of the iterator having an `__iter__' method itself. Would it make sense using the iterator `__iter__' as the preferred place where it re-initialises itself?
As far as I can tell this was done so that for could iterate over both iterables and iterators. I just don't see why it has to be done by all iterators instead of in just one place, adding much confusion between iterators and iterables in the process. Oren