[Python-ideas] keywording prohibited

[Ben Finney]

Greg Ewing <greg.ewing at canterbury.ac.nz> writes:

> Since we place a high value on not breaking existing code, we are
> naturally reluctant to add new keywords.

This also works in the opposite direction.

Despite all the natural barriers to adding a new keyword, it is still
far easier to add a new keyword than to *remove* one from the language
if it later turns out to be problematic: some portion of working code
will be thereby broken, which is much more likely than the breakage
caused by adding it in the first place.

Hance, since it's far more difficult to go back (from complex to
simple), there must be great burden of proof for the benefit in moving
from simple to complex.

-- 
 \           “Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in |
  `\                                               prayer.” —Anonymous |
_o__)                                                                  |
Ben Finney