why cannot assign to function call

[Steve Holden]

Steven D'Aprano wrote:
> On Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:03:11 -0600, Derek Martin wrote:
[...]>>>> And for that matter, it's pretty unintuitive generally.
>>> Names and objects are quite "natural" IMHO.  There are many real world
>>> objects which we attach one or more names to, or refer to in sequences
>>> like "please give me the third book on that shelve" (``shelve[2]``).
>> Indeed, but the way we assign names to them does not behave as it does
>> in Python.
> 
> It doesn't? 
> 
> Oh my, you're going to be confused in a few weeks when The President of 
> the USA ceases to be George W Bush and becomes Barack Obama. Same name 
> (or rather, title), different object (person).
> 
No, he will doubtless describe the White House as a President variable
whose value has been overwritten. There are many fine jokes to be made
about the need to garbage-collect President Bush ...
> 
> 
>> Nor does Python's assignment work like it does in algebra,
> 
> Nor does any programming language, with the possible exception of 
> computer algebra systems.
> 
I'm still waiting for an explanation of where assignment comes into
algebra in the first place.
> 
[...]
> 
>> Those interpretations came first, because, much as in the
>> evolution of any other science, that was the model which was most
>> intuitive or easily explained.
> 
> No no no no. That was the model that was most easily implemented!
> 
Agreed. In those days the von Neumann architecture was a shiny new
thing, and it was even a while before people thought of using computers
for symbolic rather than numeric operations (which is IMHO what makes
them so interesting).

> Before the named bins model of assignment was pure machine code, where 
> you didn't have bins at all, just bits, and there was no distinction 
> between code and data. And before that was *wires* -- early programmers 
> literally had to plug and unplug wires to change the state of the 
> computer. And before that were purely mechanical devices, such as the 
> Enigma Machine, old calculators, and the grand-daddy of them all, Charles 
> Babbage's difference engine and it's precursors.
> 
Aah, the old Univac 1004. Sorry, I'm rambling.
> 
> 
>> But you need not take my word for it.  Simply read the archives and see
>> for yourself how much confusion this has caused on this list. [Please
>> include the closely related behavior of parameter passing in your
>> search.]
> 
> In my opinion, the cause of that confusion is nothing to do with Python's 
> assignment model, and everything to do with the instance of some people 
> to use named bins terminology when describing the Python model. If you 
> keep the named bins terminology for describing the named bins model, 
> you're fine; and if you keep the name/object terminology for describing 
> languages with names/objects, you're fine. You only run into trouble when 
> you mix them. That's when you get people confused because "Python is Call 
> By Something, but it doesn't behave like Call By Something in language 
> Foo I've used before".
> 
> 
This really does go to show that (some) people will argue about
anything, with the major intention of proving themselves right rather
than reaching a common understanding.

regards
 Steve
-- 
Steve Holden        +1 571 484 6266   +1 800 494 3119
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