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

[Russ Paielli]

Normally I agree with you on the single-character identifiers, but I
consider this case an exception. Lets not forget that C++ and Java use
zero-character identifiers for "self", and I don't hear a din of complaints
that it harms readability.

My code does not appear to me to be any less readable to me when I
substitute "S" for "self". The fact that it is a capital letter helps a bit
here, I think. The fact that it usually appears as "S.attr" rather than just
"S" also makes it stand out clearly.

I just don't see the problem with having an "approved" shorthand form for
self when it does not require any changes in the language itself.

--Russ


On Wed, Aug 27, 2008 at 12:11 AM, Cesare Di Mauro <cesare.dimauro at a-tono.com
> wrote:

> On 27 aug 2008 at 02:02:39, Russ Paielli <russ.paielli at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > My editor, Xemacs, also highlights the word "self." I personally find
> that a
> > bit annoying, and perhaps that is part of the reason I don't appreciate
> the
> > word. When I write an algorithm, I don't want to see some artifact
> > highlighted, as if it is somehow the most important part of the
> algorithm. I
> > like seeing keywords highlighted, but I don't want to see "self"
> highlighted
> > because it is only a convention. Maybe I'm alone on that.
> >
> > As I wrote earlier, I copied one of my larger Python files and replaced
> each
> > occurrence of "self" with "S". That was approximately 350 occurrences. I
> > also replaced each occurrence of "cls" with "C", which was another 50 or
> so
> > occurrences. The file size was reduced by 2.8%, many wrapped lines no
> longer
> > need to wrap, and I like the way it looks.
> >
> > I understand that people like to have "one true way," but I think Python
> > programmers are adaptable enough to handle this one. When you read code,
> you
> > certainly need to read the argument names anyway, so the fact that "S" is
> > being used instead of "self" should be obvious. The only minor
> disadvantage
> > I can think of is that searching on a single character can be
> problematic,
> > but if you are using an IDE, that should not be an issue (and I can't
> > remember ever searching on "self" anyway).
> >
> > One of these days, when I get a chance, I may write an informational PEP
> > recommending the use of "S" as an acceptable replacement for "self", and
> "C"
> > as an accptable replacement for "cls". I hope that doesn't blow any
> fuses.
> >
> > Have a nice day.
> >
> > --Russ
>
> I absolutely disagree. It's the same thing that happens when we use one
> character identifiers: the code becomes less readable.
>
> Identifiers must be self-explicative.
>
> Cheers,
> Cesare
>



-- 
http://RussP.us
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