[Python-ideas] If branch merging

[Wolfram Hinderer]

Am 08.06.2015 um 23:26 schrieb Nick Coghlan:
> On 9 June 2015 at 01:24, Wolfram Hinderer
> <wolfram.hinderer at googlemail.com> wrote:
>> Am 08.06.2015 um 14:38 schrieb Nick Coghlan:
>>> On 8 June 2015 at 22:12, Steven D'Aprano <steve at pearwood.info> wrote:
>>>
>>> [In relation to named subexpressions leaking to the surrounding
>>> namespace by default]
>>>
>>>>> What does "x[(a.b as b)] = b" mean
>>>> surely it simply means the same as:
>>>>
>>>>      b = a.b
>>>>      x[b] = b
>>> Right, but it reveals the execution order jumping around in a way that
>>> is less obvious in the absence of side effects.
>> I'm lost. The evaluation order of today (right hand side first)
>> would make "x[(a.b as b)] = b" mean
>>
>>      x[a.b] = b
>>      b = a.b
>>
>> (assuming looking up a.b has no side effects).
> That assumption that the LHS evaluation has no side effects is the one
> that gets revealed by named subexpressions:
>
>>>> def subscript():
> ...     print("Subscript called")
> ...     return 0
> ...
>>>> def value():
> ...     print("Value called")
> ...     return 42
> ...
>>>> def target():
> ...     print("Target called")
> ...     return [None]
> ...
>>>> target()[subscript()] = value()
> Value called
> Target called
> Subscript called
>
>
Hm, that's my point, isn't it?
The evaluation of subscript() happens after the evaluation of value().
The object that the RHS evaluates to (i.e. value()) is determined before 
subscript() is evaluated. Sideeffects of subscript() may mutate this 
object, but can't change *which* object is assigned.
But if

     x[(a.b as b)] = b

means

     b = a.b
     x[b] = b

then the evaluation of the LHS *does* change which object is assigned. 
That's why I asked for clarification.

(I mentioned the thing about a.b not having side effects only because in 
my alternative

     x[a.b] = b
     b = a.b

a.b is called twice, so it's no exact representation of what is going on either. But it's a lot closer, at least the right object is assigned ;-) )