[Python-Dev] What if we didn't have repr?

[Ethan Furman]

On 05/20/2013 11:14 AM, Mark Janssen wrote:
>> I have pondered it many times, although usually in the form "Why do we
>> need both str and repr?"
>
> Here's an idea:  considering python objects are "stateful".   Make a
> general, state-query operator: "?".  Then the distinction is clear.
>
>--> ?"This is a string"  #Returns the contents of the string
> This is a string
>
> Then repr() is clearly the object "as it is" -- unstripped; i.e., not
> just it's state (or contents, or whatever).

You can have that now, just make your __repr__ do what you want.

--
~Ethan~