[Python-Dev] SETL (was: Lukewarm about range literals)

[Guido van Rossum]

> It was way ahead of its time.  Still is!  Check out its general loop
> construct, though -- now *that's* a kitchen sink.  Guido mentioned that
> ABC's Lambert Meertens spent a year's sabbatical at NYU when SETL was in its
> heyday, and I figure that's where ABC got quantifiers in boolean expressions
> (if each x in list has p(x); if no x in list has p(x); if some x in list has
> p(x)).  Have always wondered why Python didn't have that too; I ask that
> every year, but so far Guido has never answered it <wink>.

I don't recall you asking me that even *once* before now.  Proof,
please?

Anyway, the answer is that I saw diminishing returns from adding more
keywords and syntax.

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.pythonlabs.com/~guido/)