[Tutor] Looping over histogram plots

[Steven D'Aprano]

On Wed, Jun 27, 2012 at 08:47:08AM +0100, Alan Gauld wrote:
> On 27/06/12 00:32, Elaina Ann Hyde wrote:
> 
> >     Thanks for the comment, the set type is no problem for me, this is
> >just a variable that I call set... and it works great for my purposes,
> 
> It may work just now but if you ever decide you need to use a Python set 
> you will be unable to because you have effectively hidden that data 
> type. And it's unlikely to beimmediately obvious why its not working. 
> That's why its a bad idea to use the built-in type names as variables.

This is called "shadowing a built-in", and is discouraged for exactly 
the reasons that Alan mentions.

It is much less risky to shadow built-ins inside small functions, so you 
are not surprised that the built-in doesn't work as expected.

When you do it deliberately to change the behaviour of a built-in, it is 
often called "monkey-patching"[1] which is a risky, sometimes useful but 
advanced technique.

Nevertheless, any of these cases should be used with care, and only if 
necessary.




[1] Sometimes called "raving insanity" 
*grin*

-- 
Steven