[Python-ideas] allow `lambda' to be spelled λ

[David Mertz]

On Wed, Jul 13, 2016 at 7:44 PM, Steven D'Aprano <steve at pearwood.info>
wrote:

> - suppose that reading λ has a *tiny* benefit of 1% over "lambda"
>   (for those who have learned what it means);
> - but typing it is (lets say) 50 times harder than typing "lambda";
> - but we read code 50 times as often as we type it;
> - so the total benefit (50*1.01 - 50) is positive.


I actually *do* think λ is a little bit more readable.  And I have no idea
how to type it directly on my El Capitan system with the ABC Extended
keyboard.  But I still get 100% of the benefit in readability simply by
using vim's conceal feature.  If I used a different editor I'd have to hope
for a similar feature (or program it myself), but this is purely a display
question.  Similarly, I think syntax highlighting makes my code much more
readable, but I don't want colors for keywords built into the language.
That is, and should remain, a matter of tooling not core language (I don't
want https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ColorForth for Python).

FWIW, my conceal configuration is at link I give in a moment.  I've
customized a bunch of special stuff besides lambda, take it or leave it:

  http://gnosis.cx/bin/.vim/after/syntax/python.vim

-- 
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advocates of freedom in prisons.  Intellectual property is
to the 21st century what the slave trade was to the 16th.
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