Python3k extended grammar

[Ian Parker]

In article <kS1V4.30$Z9.1647 at news>, Robert <rhicks at rma.edu> writes
>uggh...keep "return"...out with "->"...nuff said!
>
>As a newbie..."return" makes it much easier read and understand
>
>Bob
>
>Roy Katz <katz at Glue.umd.edu> wrote in message
>news:Pine.GSO.4.21.0005181437530.2583-100000 at z.glue.umd.edu...
>> Hi!
>>
>> (apologies in advance as to the applicability of this message to such a
>> general group)
>>
>>
>> I checked out the TYPE-SIG material.. It's really interesting.
>> I agree that grammars which take into account the type of an object are
>> in quite demand in Python; however, as a (practical) programmer I take
>> offense at the creation of (yet) more keywords and operators.  For
>> example, take the function declaration grammar:
>>
>>    def func( x: Integer, y: Integer ) -> Integer:
>>
>> what's the rational behind using the -> operator, rather than sticking to
>> 'return'?
>>
>>    def func( x, y ) return Integer:
>>
>> IMHO it's just another operator or keyword to bloat my language.
>> Same thing with the proposed 'decl' operator. Why another keyword?
>> What's wrong with the following:
>>
>>
>>
>>    int = Integer
>>    def add( (int) x, (int) y )     # specifies type of the parameter
>>            return int;             # specifies the return type
>>    raise  exGenException:  # specifies the exceptions thrown
>>
>> z = x + y                  # body
>> return z                   # exit.
>>
>>
>> No added keywords there. I understand that the above is more verbose,
>> however, I believe this approach is vastly more consistent with the
>> traditional grammar. Then again, this is only my personal preference.
>>
>> Another question:  to whoever proposed the following notation:
>>
>>     x: [ Integer ]
>>
>> what happens when we have a list of list of strings?
>>
>>     x: [[ StringType ]]
>>
>> am I correct here?
>>
>>
>> As I see it, we have a grammar spectrum with Pascal and Java on one side,
>> (which places the burden on the programmer to declare, detail and
>> categorize every little nuance), and perl on the other -- a language
>> which IMHO is reconfigurable ad nauseum. (what kind of situation
>> necessates changing the starting array index from 0, anyway?).
>>
>>
>>
>> Roey Katz
>> Jewish Programmer.
>> Oy.
>>
>
>

I'd prefer an alternate e construction:

def integer func( x: Integer, y: Integer ):

-- 
Ian Parker