On Tuesday, April 22, 2014 11:41:56 AM UTC+5:30, Steven D'Aprano wrote: > On Mon, 21 Apr 2014 20:57:39 -0700, Rustom Mody wrote:
> > As a unicode user (ok wannabe unicode user :D ) Ive written up some > > unicode ideas that have been discussed here in the last couple of weeks: > > http://blog.languager.org/2014/04/unicoded-python.html > What you are talking about is not handling Unicode with Python, but > extending the programming language to allow non-English *letters* to be > used as if they were *symbols*. > That's very problematic, since it assumes that nobody would ever want to > use non-English letters in an alphanumeric context. You write: > [quote] > Now to move ahead! > We dont[sic] want > >>> λ = 1 > >>> λ > 1 > We want > >>> (λx : x+1)(2) > 3 > [end quote] > (Speak for yourself.) But this is a problem. Suppose I want to use a > Greek word as a variable, as Python allows me to do: > λόγος = "a word" > Or perhaps as the parameter to a function. Take the random.expovariate > function, which currently takes an argument "lambd" (since lambda is a > reserved word). I might write instead: > def expovariate(self, λ): ... > After all, λ is an ordinary letter of the (Greek) alphabet, why shouldn't > it be used in variable names? But if "λx" is syntax for "lambda x", then > I'm going to get syntax errors: > λόγος = "a word" > => like: lambda όγος = "a word" > def expovariate(self, λ): > => like: def expovariate(self, lambda): > both of which are obviously syntax errors. > This is as hostile to Greek-using programmers as deciding that "f" should > be reserved for functions would be to English-using programmers: > # space between the f and the function name is not needed > fspam(x, y): > ... > class Thingy: > f__init__(selF): > ... > fmethod(selF, arg): > return arg + 1 > Notice that I can't even write "self" any more, since that gives a syntax > error. Presumable "if" is okay, as it is a keyword. > Using Unicode *symbols* rather than non-English letters is less of a > problem, since they aren't valid in identifiers. Ok point taken. So instead of using λ (0x3bb) we should use 𝝀 (0x1d740) or something thereabouts like 𝜆 -- https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
