[Python-Dev] PEP 275: Switching on Multiple Values, Rev 1.2

[Aahz Maruch]

[Yes, this should probably go to python-list, but after surgery I
haven't been on c.l.py for more than a month.]

M.-A. Lemburg wrote:
> 
> Here is a new revision of the switch PEP. After this round and
> after Guido returns to python-dev, I intend to do one or two
> more rounds on python-list.

Here's a weird idea:

Given that the main problem we're trying to solve is the slowness of
dictionary dispatching to functions, how about adding an "inline"
keyword or function?

For example (assuming it's a function):

    def handle_data():
        self.append(data)

    dispatch_dict["foo"] = handle_data

    class C:
        def read_input(self):
            data = "foo"
            value = handle_data
            inline(dispatch_dict[value])

Note carefully that handle_data() has no paramaters.  This solution
would be somewhat more expensive computationally than the switch
construct, but it ought to be cheaper than doing an actual function
call.
-- 
                      --- Aahz (@pobox.com)

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We must not let the evil of a few trample the freedoms of the many.