[New-bugs-announce] [issue39918] random.Random(False) weird error

Jerry James report at bugs.python.org
Mon Mar 9 16:21:50 EDT 2020


New submission from Jerry James <loganjerry at gmail.com>:

Python 3.8:

>>> import random
>>> r = random.Random(False)
>>> r
<random.Random object at 0x5611716e8b00>

Python 3.9 alpha 4:

>>> import random
>>> r = random.Random(False)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
  File "/usr/lib64/python3.9/random.py", line 100, in __init__
    self.seed(x)
  File "/usr/lib64/python3.9/random.py", line 163, in seed
    super().seed(a)
TypeError: descriptor '__abs__' of 'int' object needs an argument

This arose in the context of Fedora builds with python 3.9.  The networkx project reversed two arguments, resulting in False being passed to random.Random instead of the intended seed value.  I'm glad we noticed the problem with 3.9 so the intended value will now be used, but that TypeError message doesn't really indicate the nature of the problem.  Could you arrange for a better message?

----------
components: Library (Lib)
messages: 363766
nosy: loganjerry
priority: normal
severity: normal
status: open
title: random.Random(False) weird error
type: behavior
versions: Python 3.9

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Python tracker <report at bugs.python.org>
<https://bugs.python.org/issue39918>
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