Two question from a newbie

[Joshua Macy]

Jason Stokes wrote:
> 
> Moshe Zadka wrote in message ...
> 
> >
> >if x.mode in ("view", "modify"):
> > myMode = x.mode
> 
> I don't see that this idiom has that much to recommend it.  Mr Drake's
> version is clear in that we're comparing x.mode with two modes -- "view" and
> "modify".  Your version attempts to *find* x.mode in the tuple ("view",
> "modify") and executes the sub-bock if successful.  The intention of the
> first example is immediately apparent.  The intention of the second is not
> so immediate, so it must lose out if you want to write maximally
> comprehendable code.


  Consider what happens if you want to add another three modes
(particularly if this test occurs in other places in your code). 
Something like:

modes = ("view", "modify", "debug", "modifyWithRollback")

if x.mode in modes:
  myMode = x.mode

has it all over

if (x.mode == "view" or x.mode == "modify" or x.mode == "debug" or
x.mode == "modifyWithRollback"):
  myMode = x.mode


IMO, of course.

Joshua