[Python-Dev] functions vs methods (was Re: trunc())

[Daniel Stutzbach]

On Jan 28, 2008 4:00 PM, Guido van Rossum <guido at python.org> wrote:
> No, using trunc(x) makes it clear that the argument and return value
> are numbers. Using x.trunc() doesn't.

How often do you expect someone to be looking at code where a trunc()
method is being called and the variable could plausibly be both a
number or something else?  (a Google Code search for "def trunc(self)"
lang:python returns 1 hit)

How does the that additional value weigh against the cost of adding
another builtin and trying to explain trunc() versus int() to new
users?

-- 
Daniel Stutzbach, Ph.D.             President, Stutzbach Enterprises LLC