[Python-ideas] Inline assignments using "given" clauses

[Cameron Simpson]

On 13May2018 00:51, MRAB <python at mrabarnett.plus.com> wrote:
>On 2018-05-12 22:07, Cameron Simpson wrote:
>>On 06May2018 02:00, Nick Coghlan <ncoghlan at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>Similar to import statements, optional parentheses could be included in the
>>>grammar, allowing the name bindings to be split across multiple lines:
>>>
>>>   if diff and g > 1 given (
>>>       diff = x - x_base,
>>>       g = gcd(diff, n),
>>>   ):
>>>       return g
>>
>>I'm well behind, but... this! This turns "given" into a +0.8 for me.
>>
>> That's really nice. It reads clearly too.
>>
>That's longer than this:
>
>diff = x - x_base
>g = gcd(diff, n)
>if diff and g > 1:
>    return g
>
>which is already valid.

Yes, but in a slightly larger scope such as a cascaded if/elif/.../else 
sequence embedding the "given" into the expression has 2 advantages: it stops 
the if-else cascading across the terminal purely to embed assignments before 
the next test, and it lets one clearly associate these particular assignments 
as relevant to the test itself.

Obviously there are circumstances for each, and I expect overuse of "given" 
degrades readability. However, I still find Nick's "if this given that" 
formulation quite compelling as a logical form.

Cheers,
Cameron Simpson <cs at cskk.id.au>