Re: [Python-ideas] Why does `sum` use a default for the`start`parameter?

["Terry Reedy"]

FWIW, sum was designed for summing numbers at C speed. I think it probably is as good a compromise as we can get. It is easy to program any other exact behavior one wants, and summing user objects is going to go at Python speed anyway. Certainly, none of the suggested alterations strike me as worth breaking code.

Wisely spoken. Raymond