learnpython.org - an online interactive Python tutorial

[Terry Reedy]

On 4/25/2011 2:20 AM, harrismh777 wrote:
> Steven D'Aprano wrote:
>> It seems to me that weak typing is a Do What I Mean function, and DWIM is
>> a notoriously bad anti-pattern that causes far more trouble than it is
>> worth. I'm even a little suspicious of numeric coercions between integer
>> and float. (But only a little.)
>
> I'm wondering about that as well... (a little)... I mean, maybe the way
> to be really consistent (especially with the Zen of Python, explicit is
> better than implicit) that int --> float --> complex (imaginary) should
> not occur either !
>
> I think folks would baulk at that though... big-time. :)

Guido regards the number classes as subtypes of abstract number.
Given a==d, and b==e, he believes that after
c = a op b
f = d op e
then c == f should be true (in so far as possible).
This is why he wanted to change int division.

In other words, he wants Python math to pretty much imitate calculators,
on the basis that this is what most users expect and want.

This goes along with Python's general 
polymorphism/genericity/duck-typing philosophy. It is no different from 
the fact that one can write generic algorithms that give equivalent 
answers for equivalent inputs of ordered collections or indexable sequences.

> So, bottom line here... if my students want to get numbers into their
> programs in 3.x then the correct way to handle the imput() would be:
>
> n = int(input("enter num > "))

Yes.

> ... and then let the interpreter throw an exception if the input cannot
> be type cast to int?

Converted (not cast) to int or float or complex or anything else other 
than strl.

-- 
Terry Jan Reedy