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

[Steven D'Aprano]

On Sun, Jun 24, 2018 at 09:24:39AM -0700, Guido van Rossum wrote:
> A quick follow-up: PEP 572 currently has two ideas: (a) introduce := for
> inline assignment, (b) when := is used in a comprehension, set the scope
> for the target as if the assignment occurred outside any comprehensions. It
> seems we have more support for (a) than for (b) -- at least Nick and Greg
> seem to be +0 or better for (a) but -1 for (b). IIRC (b) originated with
> Tim. 

I'm not sure who came up with the idea first, but as I remember it, the 
first mention of this came in a separate thread on Python-Ideas:

https://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-ideas/2018-April/049631.html

so possibly I'm to blame :-)

That thread starts here:

https://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-ideas/2018-April/049622.html

If I did get the idea from Tim, I don't remember doing so.


> But his essay on the topic, included as Appendix A (
> https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0572/#appendix-a-tim-peters-s-findings)
> does not even mention comprehensions. However, he did post his motivation
> for (b) on python-ideas, IIRC a bit before PyCon; and the main text of the
> PEP gives a strong motivation (
> https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0572/#scope-of-the-target).
> Nevertheless, maybe we should compromise and drop (b)?

I will have more to say about the whole "comprehensions are their own 
scope" issue later. But I'd like to see Nick's proposed PEP, or at least 
a draft of it, before making any final decisions.

If it came down to it, I'd be happy with the ability to declare an 
assignment target nonlocal in the comprehension if that's what it takes. 
What do you think of this syntax?

    [global|nonlocal] simple_target := expression


Inside a comprehension, without a declaration, the target would be 
sublocal (comprehension scope); that should make Nick happier :-)


-- 
Steve