[Python-Dev] Re: new syntax for wrapping (PEP 318)

[Skip Montanaro]

    Skip> even though non-programmers will probably never have seen the "**"
    Skip> operator, they still manage to figure it out.

    Jim> It took me several tries to get it working, though, and even then I
    Jim> was missing some points, so I had more confusing problems later.
    Jim> That isn't a desirable trait in new features.

Sorry, I didn't mean

    func(a1, a2, *args, **kwds)

I meant

    a = b ** 2

    Skip> Function modifiers would be a fairly advanced feature anyway 

    Jim> And so they are a good candidate for:

    ... [ zen bits clipped ] ...

I don't follow your reasoning.  If anything, features which are expected to
be used by more advanced users should require less "COBOL" to be useful.
I'm not arguing that the zen of Python shouldn't apply, just that advanced
features (which will probably be used a lot less than more basic features)
don't necessarily need quite the English-like structure supporting them in
the language syntax.

Skip