[Python-ideas] Modern language design survey for "assign and compare" statements

[Kirill Balunov]

2018-05-19 3:54 GMT+03:00 Mike Miller <python-ideas at mgmiller.net>:

> Background:
>
> While the previous discussions about assignment-expressions (PEP 572)
> (abbreviated AE below) have been raging one thing that was noticeable is
> that
> folks have been looking back to C for a solution.
>
> But how are newer languages solving the problem today?  Believe Ryan
> brought
> this up first on the list, but it had been in the back of my mind as well.
> Finally have compiled my research, corrections welcome.  In alphabetical
> order:
>
>
Thank you Mike this is a very useful analysis. It would be also great to
know when they introduced this feature - from the beginning or after a
while. Your results are completely consistent with all the examples from
the numerous threads - that this feature should be added only in `while`
and `if` statements.


[Chris]

The bit that you tag on as an afterthought is actually critically
> important here. You have two options:
> 1) The 'as' is part of the syntax of the 'if' and 'while' statements; or
> 2) The 'as' is part of the definition of an expression.
> The first case would be grammar like this:
> if_stmt: 'if' test ['as' NAME] ':' suite ('elif' test ':' suite)*
> ['else' ':' suite]
> The second is permitting 'as' name-bindings in arbitrary expressions,
> but then saying "except that they're only allowed in 'if' statements".
> As you've noted, the first one isn't sufficient. You can't use the
> restricted syntax for more than a small handful of conditions
> (including re.match(), but not including anything that might return
> None and might return other falsey values).
> So if this is valid:
>     if (f(x) as y) is not None:
> then why isn't this valid:
>     print(f(x) as y)
> or this:
>     f(x) as y # identical to "y = f(x)"
> or even this:
>     with (f(x) as y):


I think I have a very strong argument "why are not others valid" - Because
already three months have passed and among 1300+ messages there was not a
single real example where assignment expression would be convenient or
useful outside `while` and `if` statements. If you have a counterargument
(with an example), I would be glad to see.

This thread is about the design choices which were made in other modern
languages. And from Mike's analysis it is evident that other languages have
chosen to allow the assignment as an expression only where it is practical
- in `while` and `if` statements, or not to allow it at all.

I find this at least absolutely not constructive to push `print(f(x) as y)`
or `print(y:=f(x))` in every thread.  Is this really the only compelling
example outside `while` and `if`? Also if we consider only the usage in
`while` and `if` statements, what is the point of discussing differences
between `with (f(x) as y)` and `with f(x) as y`?  The first one will be a `
SyntaxError`, period. Can you also explain why the assignment  expression
should be valid outside `while` and `if` statements? - for dummy
consistency?  The `as` variant was _hammered_ only in the general case,
which in itself does not make sense (which is confirmed by 1300+ messages
without examples).

Some time ago Guido said that he is not _impressed_ with `as` variant. But
I think he does not like this form because it does not play well in general
case. There are several reasons why. The main one is if `as` will be
accepted it will prevent the use of this form in theoretically future
statements (for example match statement). Another point that it looks ugly
for general case. As it seems to me, the intersection with `with`, `except`
is also important but can be overcomed. The use of any system requires some
study and understanding. BUT I also think that Guido will not so strongly
object if only `while` and `if` statements were under consideration,
because there is no other choice.

Examples from other languages are very important and their choice should be
taken into account. Those languages are also designed by smart guys and I'm
sure that they were thinking about where the assignement expression should
be allowed and 1300+ messages only confirm their choice. Therefore, it may
be worthwhile to focus only on actual use cases - in `while` and `if`
statements??? and stop to flood every thread with dummy examples.


p.s.: I deliberately did not mention the pseudo _usefulness_ of assignment
expression in generators/comprehensions because the benefits are very
questionable. Therefore, to begin with, we should start with `while` and
`if` statements, and possibly in the future add it to
comprehensions/generators.

With kind regards,
-gdg
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