Andre Roberge wrote:
In Python, the humble colon (:) has multiples uses:
1. as a signal to indentation increase, signaling a block of code, [snip] 2. in slices [a:b:c] 3. in dict assignments {a:b} 4. in lambda assignments (lambda x: x+1)
I would argue that, in these last three examples, there might be better choices.
It is a bit late in Python's career to make such changes, which would break nearly all substantial programs for at best a small visual gain. -> is slightly harder to type than : and to me uglier. Any new use of ';' has to neither conflict with its current use nor introduce ambiguities that would push Python out of its current LL(1) (I believe it is) grammar class. 'key: item' comports with 'keyword-or-phrase: explanation' constructions in English. lambda expressions abbreviate def statements: def name(args): return expression => lambda args: expression The ':' separates header and body in both. I agree that slices could have used something else, but.... don't hold your breath for a code-breaking change now. Terry Jan Reedy