[Python-Dev] Re: PEP 285: Adding a bool type

[phil hunt]

On Wed, 3 Apr 2002 11:31:03 -0500 (EST), Kevin Jacobs <jacobs at penguin.theopalgroup.com> wrote:
>On Wed, 3 Apr 2002, Fredrik Lundh wrote:
>> Andrew Koenig wrote:
>> > Specifically: If I want to write a function that answers a yes/no
>> > question, I have lots of possible ways of spelling yes (1, 2, "yes",
>> > and so on) and lots of possible ways of spelling no (0, {}, None,
>> > and so on).  There isn't a single preferred way.
>> 
>> if you study real python code, you'll find that there is.
>
>Having managed 200k+ LOC Python projects with at times 20+ developers, I
>find that there isn't.  At least not without getting out a baseball bat.
>
>The first thing many of our programmers want to do at the top of their
>modules is to define:
>
>False = 0
>True = not False

If the proposal was for the equivalent of these declarations to be 
built into python, i would have no objections to it.

But the proposal has the possibilities of messing up serialisation 
between different versions, thus creating incompatibilities.

IMO Python should look towards stability between versions, and not 
introduce changes that cause backward incompatibilities unless there 
is a *very* good reason. And IMO "It'll make the code look prettier" 
*isn't* a good reason.



-- 
<"><"><"> Philip Hunt <philh at comuno.freeserve.co.uk> <"><"><">
"I would guess that he really believes whatever is politically 
advantageous for him to believe." 
                        -- Alison Brooks, referring to Michael
                              Portillo, on soc.history.what-if