[Python-3000] Please don't kill the % operator...

[skip at pobox.com]

    Brett> But how is::

    Brett>   "{0} is happy to see {1}".format('Brett', 'Christian')

    Brett> that less easier to read than::

    Brett>   "%s is happy to see %s" % ('Brett', 'Christian')

    Brett> ?  Yes, PEP 3101 style is more to type but it isn't grievous; we
    Brett> have just been spoiled by the overloading of the % operator.  And
    Brett> I don't know how newbies think these days, but I know I find the
    Brett> numeric markers much easier to follow then the '%s', especially
    Brett> if the string ends up becoming long.

If you decide to insert another format token in the middle the new is more
error-prone than the old:

    "{0} asks {1} if he is happy to see {1}".format('Brett', 'Skip', 'Christian')

                                        ^^^ whoops

vs:

    "%s asks %s if he is happy to see %s" % ('Brett', 'Skip', 'Christian')

Now extend that to format strings with more than a couple expansions.

    Brett> This is where the cranky python-dev'er comes in: PEP 3101 was
    Brett> published in April 2006 which is over a year ago!  This is not a
    Brett> new PEP or a new plan.

Yes, but Python 3 is more real today than 15 months ago, hence the greater
focus now than before.

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