On 6/16/10 9:03 PM, James Mills wrote: > Further: What is "Pythonic" ? This is probably more of a style and > personal taste that might vary from one programmer to another. > I don't recall anywhere in the Python documentation or a Python > document that says map/reduce is or isn't "pythonic" (whatever that means).
Pythonic is an ideal, a state of grace that code can achieve which finds the perfect balance between effectiveness, simplicity, and readability such that "elegant" is not quite a sufficient word. So a new one had to be made up. Its also an acquired taste, in that idiomatic Python takes some growing on you sometimes. Its not simply style and personal taste, though certainly there's something about style and taste involved. Its also about embracing Python's strengths, avoiding its weaknesses, and just a hint of flair or sometimes humor. Consider it an adjective meaning, "Of or related to idealized code according to the sometimes conflicting Zen of Python and its lesser known Doctrines of the Bots*. Belief in time travel is required for proper usage." As to your question: Of course the docs don't declare what is or is not pythonic. It is a somewhat shifty goal, as it changes as Python does (think back into the dark days before comprehensions, where map/reduce were a lot closer to the ideal). > Perhaps this list could do without posts pertaining to one's "emotional > state". It could certainly do with a little less 'taking oneself too seriously' :) -- Stephen Hansen ... Also: Ixokai ... Mail: me+list/python (AT) ixokai (DOT) io ... Blog: http://meh.ixokai.io/ P.S. Python-list was more fun when Timbot was around, and <0.2-ly y'rs> ing all the time. And discussions between the bots were great.
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