[Python-Dev] Informal educator feedback on PEP 572 (was Re: 2018 Python Language Summit coverage, last part)

[Steven D'Aprano]

On Fri, Jun 22, 2018 at 09:08:37PM -0700, Chris Barker wrote:

> > So if you absolutely need to teach it to a beginner, it
> > shouldn't be difficult once they understand the difference between an
> > expression and a statement.
> >
> 
> probably not, though that's a distinction that's mostly academic in the
> early stages of learning,

I don't think so.

People do try to use assignment in expressions, even if only by mistake 
writing = when they meant == and need to distinguish between them. In 
Python 2, the most common clash between statements and expressions was 
print, but at least that's gone.

https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-difference-between-a-statement-and-an-expression-in-Python-Why-is-print-%E2%80%98hi%E2%80%99-a-statement-while-other-functions-are-expressions

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4728073/what-is-the-difference-between-an-expression-and-a-statement-in-python

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/43435850/what-is-the-difference-between-a-statement-and-a-function-in-python

Even without assignment expressions, people still need to know why they 
can't write "if mo = re.match(pattern, text)". 


> again, not a huge deal, just a little bit more complexity

Every new feature is added complexity.


-- 
Steve