things I wish python could do

[Terry Reedy]

"Jacek Generowicz" <jacek.generowicz at cern.ch> wrote in message
news:tyfk6zgpx6w.fsf at pcepsft001.cern.ch...
> Ryan Paul <segphault at sbcglobal.net> writes:

> Yes, I find the whole statement expression dichotomy one huge PITA.

Would you really prefer writing <target> = expression as set('<target>',
expression) or as the 'special-form' pseudofunction call setq(<target>,
expression)?  Just about all Python statements are statements because they
would also be a PITA, and possibly more so, as expressions.

> > 4.  assignments cant be made inside of anonymous functions.
>
> Actually, there's very little you can do in anonymous functions, given
> that you are restricted to a _single expression_.

Lambda expressions in Python are strictly an abbreviation for functions
with a trivial body ('return expression'), nothing more.  Anonymity is a
wart, not a feature.  The keyword is, to me, a mistake because of the false
expectations it stimulates.

> I'm feeling in a controversy-stirring mood. Can you tell?

Bait taken ;-)

Terry J. Reedy