wrote:
>> if the purpose of the return value is to indicate a Boolean rather than
>> an arbitrary integer.
>>
> True, but if that is the only reason, Two built-in value of
> True/False(0/1) serves the need which is what is now(well sort of). Why
> have seperate types and distinguish them ?
>
>>>>True == 1
> True
>>>>True is 1
> False
>
Within Python that would probably be sufficient, but some external
libraries e.g. COM or XMLRPC make a distinction between integers and
booleans, so it makes it more convenient if there is a defined way to
distinguish between calling one overloaded method which takes an integer or
another of the same name which take a boolean.
Before Python had a separate boolean type there was an implementation
detail which mean that it was possible to distinguish the constants 0 and 1
which were generated by a comparison from other constant 0 and 1 values.
The python COM libraries used this 'feature'.
XMLRPC has its own Boolean class which is used in Python versions where
boolean is not a builtin.
Another reason to have a boolean type is of course to provide a cast:
def isNameSet(self):
return boolean(self.name)
instead of:
def isNameSet(self):
if self.name:
return True
else:
return False
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