[Python-Dev] Re: def fn (args) [dec,dec]:

[Edward K. Ream]

[quote]
Problems with this form:

- it hides crucial information (e.g. that it is a static method)
  after the signature, where it is easily missed

- it's easy to miss the transition between a long argument list and a
  long decorator list

- it's cumbersome to cut and paste a decorator list for reuse, because
  it starts and ends in the middle of a line

Given that the whole point of adding decorator syntax is to move the
decorator from the end ("foo = staticmethod(foo)" after a 100-line
body) to the front, where it is more in-your-face, it should IMO be
moved all the way to the front.
[end quote]

Ah Jeeze :-)  Are you really, truly saying that you want to introduce @ to
help people format their declarations?  This just seems like complete
nonsense to me.

How about:

class C(object):

     def longMethodNameForEffect(
        longArgumentOne=None,
        longArgumentTwo=42)\
     [
         staticmethod,
         funcattrs(grammar="'@' dotted_name [ '(' [arglist] ')' ]",
              status="experimental", author="BDFL")
     ]:
    SNIP

or even:

class C(object):

     def longMethodNameForEffect(
        longArgumentOne=None,
        longArgumentTwo=42)\
     \
     # ***** DECORATION *****
     [
         staticmethod,
         funcattrs(grammar="'@' dotted_name [ '(' [arglist] ')' ]",
              status="experimental", author="BDFL")
     ]:
    SNIP

Isn't "a total jumble of stuff ending with a smiley." a complete red
herring?  Look, there is a lot of information that has to be presented,
whatever the means.  How is _any_ syntax going to simplify:

funcattrs(grammar="'@' dotted_name [ '(' [arglist] ')' ]",
    status="experimental", author="BDFL")

??

And are you seriously saying that problems cutting and pasting should drive
this discussion?

real-python-programmers-don't-need-help-formatting-ly yours,

Edward

P.S. In Leo one would render this:

class C(object):

     def longMethodNameForEffect(
        longArgumentOne=None,
        longArgumentTwo=42) [
        << decoration for longMethodNameForEffect >>
     ]:
     SNIP

but I suppose that's not relevant :-)  BTW, << decoration for
longMethodNameForEffect >> would be syntax colored in red by default (with
blue << and >>) so it would stand out.

EKR
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Edward K. Ream   email:  edreamleo at charter.net
Leo: Literate Editor with Outlines
Leo: http://webpages.charter.net/edreamleo/front.html
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