[Python-ideas] PEP: Shorthand Symbol for "self"

[Russ Paielli]

On Sun, Aug 24, 2008 at 11:10 PM, Andrew Akira Toulouse
<andrew at atoulou.se>wrote:

> I agree with Brett.
>
> While it's true that $ is four character shorter than 'self.', it also
> loses expressiveness by doing so. The point here seems to be that it
> distinguishes local variables with instance variables. Whereas 'self.'
> conveys the idea that this is an instance variable clearly, a symbol such as
> '$' or '@' does not.
>

Yes it does. Or, rather, it could if allowed to do so.

The notion that Python programmers are too simple minded to adapt to a
simple notational convention seems a bit bizarre to me. Of course it does
not seem "natural" to you yet, because it is a new idea and you have not had
a chance to grow accustomed to it. But I think that anyone with half or more
of a brain could become completely comfortable with the idea within an hour
or two if they would just give a chance.

--Russ
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