Static Variables (fwd)

[David Mertz, Ph.D.]

"Jim Jacobs" <jim.jacobs at jacobshome.com> wrote previously:
|Is it possible to simulate "C" style static variables in functions?
|In methods?

>From the other responses, it seems like a lot of users don't know the
"Python static trick."  I use this moderately often... it is a slightly
strange spelling, but not hard once you learn it:

    >>> def counter(msg, cnt=[0]):
    ...   print cnt[0], msg
    ...   cnt[0] += 1
    ...
    >>> counter('first call')
    0 first call
    >>> counter('second call')
    1 second call
    >>> counter('third call')
    2 third call
    >>> counter('counter override', [37])
    37 counter override

Anything passed with a mutable type default argument gets defined along
with the function itself.  The value doesn't get redefined on calls
unless the caller explicitly forces it.

We-don't-need-no-stinkin-closures-ly yours, David...

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