[Python-Dev] Re: Python-checkins digest, Vol 1 #370 - 8 msgs

[Guido van Rossum]

> > (BTW, perhaps the __contains__ changes should be extended to __max__
> > and __min__?  They share many of the same issues.)
> 
> I suppose so, although I think the uses of a smart __contains__ are much
> more frequent than the uses of a smart __max__.

That's probably a reflection of the fact that min/max are less
frequently used than 'in'.  (Which is reflected in making min/max
"mere" functions while 'in' is a built-in operator.)

I was thinking of any sequence representation that keeps its items
sorted (like the old ABC "lists").  Of course, if you're using a hash
table, 'in' is trivially answered, but min/max aren't.

> On the other hand, I do think that it might be nice to have that sort of
> hook in the rich array world...

Really?  The min/max functions already do all their looping in C.

> On the topic of rich comparisons, I think I have a complete game plan in
> my head, if not in code. I had to do some figuring out of the mods to
> the compilation phase to allow short-circuiting with minimal performance
> impact, as you and Jim H. discussed on the list way back when.  But, as
> you can guess, I'm a bit short on time.  [For those of you who don't
> know, I have a 4-day old daughter at home, and, more relevantly, she has
> an older brother =)].

[I guess you get to worry about the older brother while your wife
takes care of the newborn? :-)]

> I would really like a bit more discussion and decision on coercions
> before finalizing the rich comparison patches, as I think a coherent
> coercion strategy will help simplify the patches. Marc-Andre is short on
> time due to the Unicode stuff, and he posted a teaser to spark some
> discussion, which got no response at all.  I'm not surprised, it's an
> ugly problem.  Did anyone have thoughts that they'd want to share on the
> topic?

I have no children [yet], but Python is my baby -- and I'm way
overcommitted to other Python projects. :-(

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)