[Tutor] dynamic arrays?

[Alex Hall]

On 9/27/10, Brian Jones <bkjones at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Mon, Sep 27, 2010 at 11:32 AM, Alex Hall <mehgcap at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>> One thing I have never much liked about Python is its need for
>> specifically sized arrays and lack of a dynamic, array-like data
>> structure. For example, the following fails with a "list assignment
>> index out of range" error:
>>
>> a=[]
>> i=0
>> for l in open("file.txt", "r"):
>>  a[i]=l
>>   i+=1
>>
>
> Is there some reason to use this construct rather than the list object's
> 'append' method?
>
> for i in open('file.txt', 'r'):
>     a.append(l)

Ah, good thought. So exactly what are the functional differences
between a list and an array in Python, or are they so close that it
makes no difference which you use? It seems like you can index into
both with the bracket notation. Are lists limited in any way that
makes them not as desirable as arrays?
>
> brian
>
>>
>> Is there something in Python I am missing that would let the above
>> work? I am hoping that my annoyance at the apparent lack of such a
>> thing is unfounded. BTW, I know why the above throws that exception.
>> TIA.
>>
>> --
>> Have a great day,
>> Alex (msg sent from GMail website)
>> mehgcap at gmail.com; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap
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>
>
>
> --
> Brian K. Jones
> My Blog          http://www.protocolostomy.com
> Follow me      http://twitter.com/bkjones
>


-- 
Have a great day,
Alex (msg sent from GMail website)
mehgcap at gmail.com; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap