[Python-Dev] replacing 'global'

[Skip Montanaro]

    Just> How about adding a "rebinding" operator, for example spelled ":=":

    Just> a := 2

    Just> It would mean: bind the value 2 to the nearest scope that defines
    Just> 'a'.

I see a couple problems:

    * Would you be required to use := at each assignment or just the first?
      All the toy examples we pass around are very simple, but it seems that
      the name would get assigned to more than once, so the programmer might
      need to remember the same discipline all the time.  It seems that use
      of
        x := 2
      and
        x = 4
      should be disallowed in the same function so that the compiler can
      flag such mistakes.

    * This seems like a statement which mixes declaration and execution.
      Everyone seems to abhor the global statement.  Perhaps its main saving
      grace is that it doesn't pretend to mix execution and declaration.

I think to narrow the scope of possible alternatives it would be helpful to
know if what we're looking for is a way to allow the programmer only bind in
the nearest enclosing scope or if she should be able to bind to an arbitrary
enclosing scope.  The various ideas seem to be falling into those two
categories.  Guido, do you have a preference or a pronouncement on that
idea?  Knowing that would eliminate one category of solutions.

Skip