Wrong reasons to enhancing the language

[Russell E. Owen]

>>I believe many of the improvements in Python 2.0 fall into the category 
>>of helpful improvements. I am more doubtful about some of the stuff 
>>coming up (including nested scopes, // and rational numbers), but we'll 
>>see how it works out.
>
>None of those are Python 2.0 improvements.  Nested scopes are an
>optional feature of Python 2.1 and the others are simply *proposed*
>features.  This is a *great* time to be debating the numerics issues.

Darn, here I thought I was being so clear, but of course I always know 
what I *mean* to say. Let me try again...

I really, really like the enhancements in Python 2.0. Hence: "I believe 
many of the improvements in Python 2.0 fall into the category of helpful 
improvements." That was a bit understated, perhaps. I think 2.0 was a 
total win. Great stuff. Much appreciated.

However, I am dubious about some of the improvements scheduled for 2.1 
and 2.2, hence: "I am more doubtful about some of the stuff coming up 
(including nested scopes, // and rational numbers), but we'll see how it 
works out.

As to the numerics, I'm not upset about the changes, just a bit nervous.
- Rational numbers will be used by default in certain situations (such 
as the results of division). I can see where rational numbers and 
infinite precision are very nice to have, but I'm not so sure I want 
them being used by default in normal calculations. Maybe that's not 
rational (sorry). Perhaps my main concern is speed.

- It's hard for me to get enthused about "//". I do see the 
justification; I agree that 1/3 = 0 is a non-obvious thing and a trap 
for non-c mavens. But I'm inclined to live with it rather than add 
another operator. "//" looks confusing to me (though at least it's a 
flavor of division, not something totally unrelated such as a comment). 
I'm not going to jump up and down about it either way. Maybe Python 3000 
can have "/" be a float operator!?

I've posted a lot about nested scopes. Summary: mediocre implementation 
with funny exceptions and too many chances to shoot self in foot. I'd 
rather simplify it or dump it.

-- Russell