the lvalue curse? let's play with this crazy idea ;)

[Marc 'BlackJack' Rintsch]

On Fri, 09 May 2008 02:13:34 -0700, XLiIV wrote:

> Let's take a look at two ways of thinking...
> the standard one which is well-known and loved by almost everyone :)
> and that crazy concept below which suprised evan me :wacko:
> 
> <code>
> import time
> 
> ftime = time.time()
> localtime = time.localtime(ftime)
> localtime = list(localtime[:3])
> localtime = [str(i) for i in localtime]
> print '-'.join(localtime)
> </code>
> 
> It's harder to read than the below concept, isn't?
> Maybe I didn't used to this way of thinking yet. I hope it'll change
> soon or i'll quit ;)

Maybe it's also harder to read than this::

  print '-'.join(map(str, time.localtime()[:3]))

Of course, if you don't mind the extra padding zeroes in day and month::

  print time.strftime('%Y-%m-%d')

> <almost code>
> time.time() -> ftime -> time.localtime() -> p -> p[:3] -> g -> list(g)
> -> '-'.join()
> </almost code>

You are a little bit inconsistent with the arguments.  `g` is explicitly
mentioned in ``list(g)``.  But why the intermediate names at all?

> My example conclusion and not-ansewered-yet question...
> -it's nice to read and choosing the good names to variables aren't so
> important
> -what is the purpose of the variables here? :)

Exactly.  But look at my snippet above: No intermediate names either.

> I realize that there is no chance to implement it, but I really want
> to share it :]

Maybe you should look into languages like SmallTalk or Io where everything
is done with method calls.  Your example in Io::

  Date now do("#{year}-#{month}-#{day}" interpolate linePrint)

Ciao,
	Marc 'BlackJack' Rintsch