[Python-Dev] Draft proposal: Implicit self in Python 3.0

[Thomas Wouters]

On Sun, Jan 08, 2006 at 06:31:35PM +0100, "Martin v. Löwis" wrote:
> Thomas Wouters wrote:
> > My point isn't that it isn't archived somewhere (mailinglists, wiki, FAQ,
> > the minds of many, many people, not just Python developers) but that it
> > isn't easily findable and it isn't easily accessible in a single location.

> Why would a single Wiki page not be accessible in a single location? Why
> is the FAQ not accessible in a single location?

Unless either of those would replace PEPs (or include all information from
all PEPs), they would be a second location.

> > I thought PEP's where supposed to be that, and if I have a particular
> > idea for new syntax or new semantics, PEPs would be the place I'd look,
> > not the FAQ or a Wiki.

> Right. However, I doubt you would look in the "rejected ideas" PEP.

You may have the luxury of that doubt, but I don't :) I'm sorry if my
comments sounded hypothetical; they weren't. I did wonder about (among other
things) 'x, y, *rest = l', and because I didn't know the name, I did browse
the PEP list. A 'Rejected Ideas' PEP would've caught my eye even if I didn't
have a hunch Guido would reject 'x, y, *r = l'.

> I agree that collecting them in a single place is a good idea. Whether
> this is a PEP, a Wiki page, or the FAQ is nearly irrelevant, except:
> - it is strange to call it a "Python Enhancement Proposal"

They are proposals to enhance Python, though. That's exactly why I argue
they should be in a PEP, not in some other location: it's all neatly bundled
together. It's just not a PEP per single proposal.

> - in either the FAQ or the PEP, it will stay in its initial form
>   forever, since nobody but the original author will edit it
>   (that could be true of a Wiki page as well, but on a Wiki page,
>   people *know* they are meant to edit it if they want to say
>   something)

I don't think the rejected-ideas collection should be publically editable
either. It's not a discussion forum, it's not meant to get people to
persuade Guido to change his mind, it's a list of "these things just aren't
going to happen, deal with it". A Meta-PEP like Tim suggested seems most
appropriate to me, even if it isn't purely Meta; practicality beats purity
and all that.

-- 
Thomas Wouters <thomas at xs4all.net>

Hi! I'm a .signature virus! copy me into your .signature file to help me spread!