[Python-Dev] Status regarding Old vs. Advanced String Formating

[Tshepang Lekhonkhobe]

On Sat, Feb 25, 2012 at 12:20, "Martin v. Löwis" <martin at v.loewis.de> wrote:
>> I find that strange, especially for an expert Python dev. I, a newbie,
>> find it far friendlier (and easier for a new programmer to grasp).
>> Maybe it's because I use it all the time, and you don't?
>
> That is most likely the case. You learn by practice. For that very
> reason, the claim "and easier for a new programmer to grasp" is
> difficult to prove. It was easier for *you*, since you started using
> it, and then kept using it. I don't recall any particular obstacles
> learning % formatting (even though I did for C, not for C++).
> Generalizing that it is *easier* is invalid: you just didn't try
> learning that instead first, and now you can't go back in a state
> where either are new to you.

When I started using Python, Advanced format wasn't yet available, so
I was forced to use Old style format. It's not a big issue, especially
since I had also used C before then. It's just that when Advanced
format was introduced, I fell for it, mainly because I found it more
readable (also see the sort of power Nick displayed earlier in this
thread) not to mention elegant. For that reason, I would recommend any
new Python programmer to ignore Old style altogether. That includes
those with C background.

PS: By newbie, I meant that I'm at the low ranks (at least as compared
to you), not that I only started using Python last year. Sorry for the
noise.