Using re module better

[castironpi at gmail.com]

On Mar 5, 6:12 am, Tim Chase <python.l... at tim.thechases.com> wrote:
> > if (match = re.search('(\w+)\s*(\w+)', foo)):
>
> Caveat #1:  use a raw string here
> Caveat #2:  inline assignment is verboten
>
>    match = re.search(r'(\w+)\s*(\w*+)', foo)
>    if match:
>
> >     field1 = match.group(1)
> >     field2 = match.group(2)
>
> This should then work more or less.  However, since you know
> there are two matches, you can just use
>
>    field1, field2 = match.groups()
>
> If the regexp is one you plan to reuse (or call in a loop), you
> can pre-compile it:
>
>    r = re.compile(r'(\w+)\s*(\w*+)')
>    for thing in bunch_of_things:
>      m = r.search(thing)
>      if m:
>        field1, field2 = m.groups()
>        do_something(field1, field2)
>
> HTH,
>
> -tkc

Opposed is to mimic MatchGroup that doesn't do anything, and returns
from a non-match call, field1, field2 = match.groups() or [ Dummy,
Dummy ], and similarly ...= [ None, None ].

On another note, why do people X, Y, and Z, including me, all hate to
write a= b(); if a: a.something()?