learnpython.org - an online interactive Python tutorial

Mel mwilson at the-wire.com
Fri Apr 22 09:07:17 EDT 2011


harrismh777 wrote:

> Heiko Wundram wrote:
>> The difference between strong typing and weak typing is best described
>> by:
>>
>> Python 2.6.5 (r265:79063, Jun 12 2010, 17:07:01)
>> [GCC 4.3.4 20090804 (release) 1] on cygwin
>> Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>>> >>>  1+'2'
>> Traceback (most recent call last):
>>    File "<stdin>", line 1, in<module>
>> TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'int' and 'str'
>>>>> >>>
> 
> Yes. And you have managed to point out a serious flaw in the overall
> logic and consistency of Python, IMHO.
> 
> Strings should auto-type-promote to numbers if appropriate.

"Appropriate" is the problem.  This is why Perl needs two completely 
different kinds of comparison -- one that works as though its operands are 
numbers, and one that works as though they're strings.  Surprises to the 
programmer who picks the wrong one.

	Mel.




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