Hi,
import re
foo_pattern = re.compile('foo')
'>>> m = foo_pattern.search(subject)
'>>> if m:
'>>> pass
'>>> else:
'>>> pass
We've all seen it before. Its a horrible idiom that you would achieve
in another language by doing:
if (m = foo_pattern.search(subject))
{ }
else
{ }
but it occured to me today, that it is possible to do it in python
without the extra line.
'
'>>> def xsearch(pattern, subject):
'>>> yield pattern.search(subject)
'>>> for m in xsearch(foo_pattern, subject):
'>>> pass
'>>> else:
'>>> pass
simple, concise, requires no new syntax, and is only a little confusing[1]!
Just recording some thoughts I had. This still doesn't take care of
the horrors of chaining multiple regular expressions. The following is
still incredibly hideous.
'>>> for m in xsearch(foo_pattern, subject):
'>>> pass
'>>> else:
'>>> for m in xsearch(bar_pattern, subject):
'>>> pass
'>>> else:
'>>> pass
Thankyou for your time.
Stephen Thorne
[1] Actual confusement may vary.
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