[Python-ideas] iterable.__unpack__ method

[Greg Ewing]

João Bernardo wrote:
> Python already supports this odd syntax
> 
>     a, b, *[] = iterable
> 
> because it interprets the [] not as an empty list, but as an empty "list 
> of identifiers". Maybe it could be used for something useful.

No, because it already has a meaning: there must be no more
values left in the sequence.

> BTW, the del syntax has the same "problem"
> 
>     del a, b, (c,), [d], []

Or just

    [] = iterable

The surprising thing is that a special case seems to be
made for ():

 >>> () = []
   File "<stdin>", line 1
SyntaxError: can't assign to ()

It's surprising because () and [] are otherwise completely
interchangeable for unpacking purposes.

-- 
Greg