[Python-ideas] why not "name = value if condition"?

[George Sakkis]

On Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 9:03 AM, spir <denis.spir at free.fr> wrote:

> Hello,
>
> What's the reason why
>   name = value if condition
> is invalid? Meaning: there _must_ be an else clause.
>
> [I imagine this has been discussed and refused consciously, but I couldn't find it in PEP308, nore in archives.]
>
> It would be practicle in many situations, e.g. to give default values to parameters:
>
> def writeFile(text, title, format=STANDARD, fileName=None):
>   fileName = title+".py" if fileName is None
>   ...
>
> Denis
>
> PS:
> Sure, one can write
>   if condition:
>      name = value
> but the rationale in favour of, or against, a one-liner shortcut is the same as for the ternary case (with else).

You do realize that "if condition: name = value" is a valid one-liner, right ?

if/else on the other hand is a two-liner at least.

George