[Tutor] Initialize values from a text input file

[Tim Johnson]

* Alan Gauld <alan.gauld at btinternet.com> [110103 14:47]:
>
> "Tim Johnson" <tim at johnsons-web.com> wrote
>
>> consider the following console session:
>>>>> L = ['foo','bar']
>>>>> locals()[L[0]] = L[1]
>>>>> foo
>> 'bar'
>>>>> locals()
>> {'__builtins__': <module '__builtin__' (built-in)>, 'L': ['foo',
>> 'bar'], '__package__': None, '__name__': '__main__', 'foo': 'bar',
>> '__doc__': None}
>>
>> I could initialize variables in a local scope, or I could build a
>> dictionary. Actually the dictionary is preferable for the targeted
>> application.
  Actually, the dictionary is the target medium

> Except in extreme cases I'd say a dictionary was better in almost any 
> situation. Messing with locals() is a dodgy business at best, and can 
> lead to debugging insanity at worst, its better to keep externally 
> initialized data explicit in almost every case.
  I agree, that's why I said I "was having a little fun".
  Now, Alan, do you know anything about PHP? If you do, can you
  comment on the PHP extract() function?
  thanks
-- 
Tim 
tim at johnsons-web.com or akwebsoft.com
http://www.akwebsoft.com