[Python-3000] String literal representation of integers (octal/binary discussion)

[Jim Jewett]

On 3/18/07, Guido van Rossum <guido at python.org> wrote:
> Octal does need to be justified, since some people argued to remove
> it. I guess binary needs to be justified because Thomas doesn't see
> the need. :-)

I see literals for octal and binary as similar to raising a tuple, or
automatically unpacking one in a function call.  It can be useful, but
it isn't needed very often.  When it does show up, it can be confusing
*because* it is so rare.

If I were only worried about one program, I would prefer to write:

    >>> oct(78) == "0o116"

rather than:

    >>> from math import oct
    >>> oct(78) == int("123", 8)

The preference isn't really overwhelming, though, and the use isn't
very frequent.  This doesn't seem like a big enough win to justify any
extra complexity in the language.

(And no, I wouldn't add hex either, but not adding is different from removing.)

-jJ