[Python-3000] have zip() raise exception for sequences of different lengths

[Guido van Rossum]

On 8/31/06, Raymond Hettinger <rhettinger at ewtllc.com> wrote:
>
> >How about a keyword-only argument called finish which is a callable to
> >deal with the problem?  When any sequence is exhausted, its position
> >is filled with StopIteration, and then finish(result) is returned.
>
> How about we resist the urge to complicate the snot out of a basic
> looping construct.  Hypergeneralization is more of a sin than premature
> optimization.

Hear, hear! Hypergeneralization adds features you can never get rid of
even though they may only be useful for <1% of the populations. At
least unnecessary optimizations can be rolled back safely.

> It is important that zip() be left as dirt simple as possible.  In the
> tutorial (section 5.6), we're able to use short, simple examples to
> teach all of the fundamental looping techniques to total beginners in a
> way that lets them save their brain power for learning exceptions,
> classes, generators, packages, and whatnot.
>
> Creative talent is being wasted here just to solve a non-problem.
> Please keep Py3k on track for cruft removal. We're seeing way too much
> discussion on random, screwball proposals rather that focusing on what
> really matters:  Keeping the tried and true while removing stuff we've
> always wanted to take away.

Amen.

-- 
--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)