On 12/10/2011 9:16 AM, Richard Prosser wrote:
Although I love Python there are some aspects of the language design which are disappointing and which can even lead to problems in some cases.
A classic example is a mutable default argument having the potential to produce unexpected side-effects, as a consequence of the non-intuitive scoping rules.
Another awkward 'feature' is the requirement for a trailing comma in singleton tuples, due I believe to the use of expression parentheses rather than (say) the use of special brackets like chevrons.
Something that I personally wish for is the ability to declare variable types 'up front' but that facility is missing from Python.
One of these things is not like the others. Mutable default arguments, and singleton tuples are surprises that make sense once you understand things on a deeper level. It makes sense to call them out as a "gotcha": a common stumbling block for learners. But "no type declarations" is not a wart, it's a fundamental feature of the language that is immediately apparent from the first lesson. --Ned.