Chris Angelico <ros...@gmail.com>: > On Mon, Aug 11, 2014 at 7:35 PM, Marko Rauhamaa <ma...@pacujo.net> wrote: >> Python is a formal language with a well-defined syntax and reasonably >> well-understood semantics. That's all that matters. Any resemblance >> to the much more ad-hoc syntax of classical mathematics is almost >> coincidental. > > Well, it's a bit more than coincidence. It's the ELIZA effect: > > http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/E/ELIZA-effect.html > > Using notations that some people will be familiar with is better than > constructing brand new notations from scratch, even if not everyone > can gain that benefit.
The main thing is that the definitions must be clear. I must be able to look up the precise description quickly, and in fact, I always have the Python Library Reference in a browser tab or two because I have to review even familiar functionality over and over again. Less often, I also have to review the Python Language Reference. You don't have to like the = sign or the trailing comma of 1-tuples. What matters is that you know how to use them. The second in priority is that the language/module should be faithful to its own principles. An example is the so-called "file-like objects" in Python. A different one would be the principle that a new indentation level is always introduced by a colon. Yet another specialty of Python is the numerous "magic" access points that have been named __xyz__. You don't have to like the naming of __init__. It doesn't have to have a precedent in other programming languages. However, it is important that it follows a general, rigorous Python pattern. Marko -- https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
