On 13/05/2006 1:55 AM, vbgunz wrote:
> I forgot to explain my reason for over shadowing the 'string' built-in
> within my iterator. To me, it doesn't matter because the string
> identifier is temporary within the function and dies when the function
> dies. Also, I personally don't use the string function and prefer
> ''.join('hi'), etc. Also, at least for me just starting out in Python,
> I find 'string' to be as readable as possible :)
>
> what do you think about that?
>
1. 'string' is not a function, it is a module. I'm glad you don't use
the non-existent 'string function'.
2.
>>> ''.join('hi')
'hi'
You prefer to do that instead of what?
Look at the docs on the .join() method carefully, and consider the
following:
>>> '-'.join('hello')
'h-e-l-l-o'
>>>
3. Back to the shadowing thing:
'string' is admittedly not a good example to pull you up on, as that
module is little used these days. However it is the thin end of the
wedge, and your adding 'index' in round 2 just drove the wedge in a
little further. Once you start using words like 'file' and 'list' as
variable names, your code will be almost as *UN*readable as possible.
It's not just the shadowing possibility, it's the confusion in the
reader's mind between the usual/normal Python meaning of a word and the
meaning that you have attached to it. As you are just starting out in
Python, now is the time to acquire good habits.
Cheers,
John
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