[Idle-dev] Running beginner Pythons

[Terry Reedy]

On 10/9/2015 11:27 PM, phil jones wrote:
> Personally I'd say it doesn't smell right to be making a non-standard
> Python through a pre-processor that only works in IDLE.

A code translation function can be used anywhere one apply it.  Is it 
better for a non-standard Python to only work in a non-standard 
framework, rather than IDLE?  The answer partly depends on whether one 
approves or disapproves of training wheels, and wants to encourage or 
discourage their production, by making it easier or keeping it hard.


> What's wrong with "while" if you want simple loops without getting into
> range(n)?

Ask that of Andre Roberge on python-ideas ;-).

> Or just define a couple of new functions that are more English-like?
>
> for i in count_to(4) :
>      blah
>
>
> while repeat_times(4) :
>      blah
>
> (where the repeat_times function would have to sneakily set some kind of
> global counter that the child never sees).

Discussion of alternatives to Andre's proposal really belongs on the 
python-ideas list.  I am not the one that needs to be convinced.  As 
with this one, it is easily accessed via news.gmane.org as 
gmane.comp.python.ideas.

-- 
Terry Jan Reedy