[Python-3000] PEP 3125 -- a modest proposal

[Andrew Koenig]

> Too dangerous.  The most common Python syntax error (by far, even for
> experienced users) is omission of a colon.  If the missing colon starts
> to have its own special meaning, that would not be a good thing.

It's not special -- omitting it would have exactly the same effect as
omitting a colon does today in a single-line statement.  That is, today you
can write

	if x < y: x = y

or you can forget the colon and write

	if x < y x = y

and (usually) be diagnosed by the compiler.  My proposal would make

	if x < y:
		x = y

and

	if x < y
		x = y

have the same meanings as (respectively) the first two examples above, so
the fourth example would still be diagnosed as an error for the same reason.