[Tutor] Lists or Dictionary?

[alan.gauld@bt.com]

> i need to creata a data structure... i don't know what to use... 
> it should be something like this:
>
> node[0].name
> node[0].state

Which implies a list of objects.

>or this:
>node['A'].name
>node['A'].state

Which suggests a dictionary of objects.

> i have already done a class... 

Good, you need that in either scenario.

> and experimented with lists.... and it works just fine... 

So use lists! :-)

> i need to know if access and modifications to the structure 
> get slower using a dictionar instead of lists....

No they usually get faster. But if it works "just fine" with lists then
carry on using them. Unless performance is a known problem for you 
why add the extra complexity of managing a dictionary when you've 
already solved it for lists!?

> it is a big data structure.... 10.000 nodes.... 

Either lists or dictionaries should be fine.

> and about 10 fields.... (small fields.. numbers and small strings..)

That only affects the class design and has no impact on the 
list/dictionary debate. Both will just hold a reference to the object.

HTH,

Alan g.
Author of the Learn to Program website
http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/alan.gauld/