[Python-Dev] Re: [Python-checkins] python/dist/src/Doc/lib libfuncs.tex,1.134,1.135

[Raymond Hettinger]

> > * Indicate that arguments are optional for most builtin type constructors.
>  > ...
> > ! \begin{funcdesc}{bool}{\optional{x}}
> 
> This sounds weird:
> 
> * Why should object constructors have an optional argument without
>    a default value ? Why aren't these default values documented ?
> 
> * This "feature" sounds like it will hide programming errors.
> 
> * What is the purpose of the "feature" ?

I'm not following whether you don't like the implementation or 
documentation.  My patch just documents the existing implementation.

The implementation has been in for a while (GvR checked in Alex's 
patch for www.python.org/sf/724135 ).  The news item reads:

- bool() called without arguments now returns False rather than
  raising an exception.  This is consistent with calling the
  constructors for the other builtin types -- called without argument
  they all return the false value of that type.  (SF patch #724135)


Raymond Hettinger