[Python-ideas] Possible method of distinguishing between set-literals, dict-literals, and odict-literals

[Steven D'Aprano]

On Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:28:29 am Terry Reedy wrote:
> >> When you read OrderedDict([('a', '1'),('b', '2'), ('c', '3')]),
>
> OrderedDict({'a':1', 'b':'2', 'c':'3'}]

Creating an ordered dict from arbitrarily ordered input data surely 
ranks up there with one of the most pointless operations ever!

You know, this is such a simple, yet silly, mistake to make, I'd be 
almost tempted to disallow constructing an OrderedDict from regular 
dicts. If you want non-arbitrary ordering, you can't use a dict as 
input, and if you don't want arbitrary ordering, there's no point in 
using an ordered dict! 

As far as I can see, there is no use-case for OrderedDict(dict) other 
than to generate confused newbies.



> > How about ['a':'1', 'b':'2', 'c':'3']?
>
> Nice Idea!

I hope you're being sarcastic.



-- 
Steven D'Aprano