checking if a list is empty

[Ethan Furman]

Hans Georg Schaathun wrote:
> On Wed, 11 May 2011 13:50:54 -0400, Prasad, Ramit
>   <ramit.prasad at jpmchase.com> wrote:
> :  I find this argument to be flawed. Should I stop using built-in 
> : generators instead of range/xrange for looping through lists?
> : Certainly for loops with loop counting are understood more widely
> : than generators. Should I stop using any advanced feature Python
> : because it is difficult to understand without knowing Python?
> 
> No; I'd suggest the most legible and intuitive construct that /does/ the
> job.  Never something which requires one extra (illegible) page to do
> the job, or something which does not do the job at all.
> 
> :  I may not have made the point well, but I cannot see any advantage 
> : for trying to program for the lowest common denominator.
> 
> Common to what?  I'd try the lowest common denominator of
> legibility and effictiveness.
> 
> It is just KISS.

'if li' *is* KISS.

~Ethan~