Draft Pep (was: Re: Let's Talk About Lambda Functions!)

[Paddy]

I liked the PEP but thought the major use of indentation prior to
the def or class statement merited the inclusion of the usual
colon.

John Roth wrote:

<< SNIP>>
>>
> 
> PEP: xxx
> Title: Anonymous Functions and Classes
> Version: $Revision: 1.0 $
> Last-Modified: $Date: 2002/08/03 16:23:15 $
> Author: John H. Roth <pythonstuff at jhrothjr.com>
> Status: Active
> Type: Standards Track
> Created: 03-Aug-2002
> Post-History:
> 
> 
> Abstract
> 
>     This PEP provides the syntax for generalized anonymous functions and
>     classes.  It provides a replacement for the lambda() function.
> 
> 
<<SNIP>>
> 
> 
> Specification
> 
>     An anonymous function or class consists of a parenthesized function
> or
>     class definition, written the same way as a normal function or class
>     definition, with the following exceptions.

<<INSERT>>

      0. The enclosing left parenthesis should be followed immediately by

         a colon, then optional whitespace, then a newline. 
> 
>     1. The name (the token immediately following the word def or class)
> is
>     obviously omitted.
> 
>     2. The 'def' or 'class' token must be on the line following the
> opening
>     parenthesis.
> 
>     3. The 'def' or 'class' token must be indented sufficiently for the
> ending
>     right parenthesis to close the definition, and still continue the
> enclosing
>     containing expression.
> 

<<SUBSTITUTE THIS EXAMPLE FOR THE ORIGINAL BELOW>>
       A very simple example:
           x = (:
               def (x, y):
                   print x
                   print y
               )


>     A very simple example:
>         x = (
>             def (x, y):
>                 print x
>                 print y
>             )
> 
>     This example creates an anonymous function and then binds it to the
>     variable x.  If x was found within a class, it would be a method.
> 
> 
<<SNIP>>



What do you think of the proposed change John?

Paddy.


P.S.
I wonder? should you then be able to write `x = (: def (x): print x )` << Joke
Don't kill me for that last line :-)