[Python-Dev] Thoughts fresh after EuroPython

[Steven D'Aprano]

On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:04:57 am Steve Holden wrote:
> > - After seeing Raymond's talk about monocle (search for it on PyPI)
> > I am getting excited again about PEP 380 (yield from, return values
> > from generators). Having read the PEP on the plane back home I
> > didn't see anything wrong with it, so it could just be accepted in
> > its current form. Implementation will still have to wait for Python
> > 3.3 because of the moratorium. (Although I wouldn't mind making an
> > exception to get it into 3.2.)
>
> I can understand the temptation, but hope you can manage to resist
> it.
>
> The downside of allowing such exceptions is that people won't take
> these pronouncements seriously if they see that a sufficiently
> desirable goal is a reason for ignoring them. Everyone should be
> subject to the same rules.


I have no opinion on PEP 380 specifically, but surely a *sufficiently* 
desirable goal *should* be a reason for breaking the rules? Obedience 
to some abstract rule just because it is the rule is not a virtue. The 
moratorium is there to advance Python as a whole, and if (a big "if") 
it becomes a hindrance instead, then Guido should make an exception.

I promise that I won't cease taking his pronouncements seriously if he 
does :)


-- 
Steven D'Aprano