[Python-ideas] Variable-length, homogeneous tuple: why? (was: Optional static typing -- the crossroads)

[Ben Finney]

Guido van Rossum <guido at python.org> writes:

> A mostly unrelated issue: there are two different uses of tuples, and
> we need a notation for both. One is a tuple of fixed length with
> heterogeneous, specific types for the elements; for example Tuple[int,
> float].

That's the meaning of a tuple data structure, to me.

> But I think we also need a way to indicate that a function expects (or
> returns) a variable-length tuple with a homogeneous element type.

Why? What real-world uses are there, where a list won't do the job
adequately?

I have encountered many uses of “homogeneous, variable-length sequence”
and every time a Python tuple is used for that, I perceive a Python list
would be better precisely *because* it better indicates that semantic
meaning.

I'd like to know how you think that's not true, and what real-world code
makes you think so.

-- 
 \      “Contentment is a pearl of great price, and whosoever procures |
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Ben Finney