[Python-3000] default argument surprises

[Sam Bishop]

On Tue, Aug 26, 2008 at 8:31 PM, Chris Rebert <cvrebert at gmail.com> wrote:
> You might then be interested in the following related discussions from
> last year wherein I proposed something extremely similar:
>
> [Python-ideas] proto-PEP: Fixing Non-constant Default Arguments
> http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-ideas/2007-January/000121.html
>
> [Python-3000] pre-PEP: Default Argument Expressions
> http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-3000/2007-February/005712.html

Hmm...  That's too bad.  I like your PEP.  :)

I disagree with Guido's comment about this being related to class
variables, from a newbie's point of view anyway.  Classes introduce a
namespace and functions introduce a scope.  What surprises me is that
functions seem to introduce two scopes: one for variables declared as
formal parameters and one for variables assigned to within the
function.

Don't get me wrong.  I realize that I'm a newbie, but I expect that's
a unique perspective for those subscribed to this list.  And I do know
what "BDFL" stands for.  :)

Thanks,
Sam