[Python-Dev] PySet API

[Raymond Hettinger]

[Gareth McCaughan]
> For what it's worth[1], I think Raymond is absolutely on crack here.

Nope.  No mind-altering drugs here.  Based on real-word experience, I have found 
PySet_Next() to be a bug factory and do not want it included in the API.

The story is different for PySet_Update().  Defining it now could get in the way 
of possible future development for the module (the function may end-up taking a 
variable length argument list instead of a single argument).

Neither of these proposals are necessary.  Both have safe, simple, workable 
alternatives.  It is not my problem if those alternatives do not suit your 
tastes.  A personal aversion to the abstract api is no reason to forgo safety or 
to interfere with future development of the module.  Quality and flexibility 
considerations trump micro-optimizations and personal style biases.

Most of the push has been predicated on being in a snit about the existing 
iterator API.  However, in the course of writing itertools and other Python 
enchancements, I've had occassion to thoroughly exercise the iterator API and 
have not found it to be a problem in practice.


Raymond