Steve Howell wrote:
> On Apr 2, 2:04 am, Steven D'Aprano <st...@remove-this-
> cybersource.com.au> wrote:
[...]
>> How is the ternary operator "not really ternary, it's binary"? It
>> requires three arguments, not two, which makes it ternary. In Python
>> syntax:
>>
>
> Of course, I understand that the ternary operator has three arguments,
> but it only has two possible outcomes.
>
That doesn't make it a binary operator. Otherwise what's long
multiplication, which has an infinite number of possible outcomes?
> You asked me to elaborate on the "Tyranny of Three." Let's say you
> have three possible outcomes.
>
> In some languages you would write something like this:
>
> mark = (rolls == 1) && (pins == 10) ? 'strike' :
> (rolls == 2) && (pins == 10) ? 'spare' :
> 'normal'
>
> Many people consider the above very ugly, so they write it like so:
>
> if pins == 10:
> if rolls == 1:
> return 'strike'
> else:
> return 'spare'
> else:
> return 'normal'
>
> Then the next programmer comes along and "cleans up":
>
> if pins == 10:
> return 'strike' if rolls == 1 else 'spare'
> else:
> return 'normal'
>
> Then there is this alternative:
>
> if rolls == 2:
> return 'spare' if pins == 10 else 'normal'
> else:
> return 'strike'
>
> And then:
>
> if rolls == 2:
> if pins == 10
> return 'spare'
> else
> return 'normal
> else:
> return 'strike'
>
> Or even this:
>
> return 'strike' if rolls == 1 else ('spare' if pins == 10 else
> 'normal')
>
> The "Tyranny of Three" refers to a problem where there are an infinite
> number of valid solutions, but none of them have any essential beauty,
> so they lead to endless nitpicking and code churn.
>
The Real Programmer (tm) simply chooses one, implements it and moves on.
While philosophical discussions are interesting they don't pay the bills.
regards
Steve
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