Ben Finney wrote: > Jonathan Gardner <jgard...@jonathangardner.net> writes: > >> Compare with Python's syntax. >> >> # The only way to assign >> a = b >> >> # The only way to call a function >> b(...) >> >> # The only way to access a hash or array or string or tuple >> b[...] > > For all of your examples, there are other ways supported. I do wish this > focus on “only way” would depart, it's a fallacy and not helpful. > And besides which most people get the quote wrong. The "authoritative" version from the Zen is, as you clearly already know
There should be one-- and preferably only one --obvious way to do it. > What is important (and supports the main point of your message) is that > for each of the above, whether or not they are the only way, they are > the one *obvious* way to do the operation. > Quite. People might be interested to know the history of the Zen, which I got directly from Tim Peters over lunch one day. It was composed, apparently, during the commercial breaks one evening while he was watching professional wrestling on the television! So it's wise not to take the Zen too seriously. It wasn't written to guide, but to amuse. The fact that it can do both is a testament to Tim's sagacity. regards Steve -- Steve Holden +1 571 484 6266 +1 800 494 3119 PyCon is coming! Atlanta, Feb 2010 http://us.pycon.org/ Holden Web LLC http://www.holdenweb.com/ UPCOMING EVENTS: http://holdenweb.eventbrite.com/ -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list