[Python-Dev] A critic of Guido's blog on Python's lambda

Sat May 6 02:23:14 CEST 2006

In this post, i'd like to deconstruct one of Guido's recent blog 
about lambda in Python.
In Guido's blog written in 2006年02月10日 at http://www.artima.com/ 
weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=147358
is first of all, the title “Language Design Is Not Just Solving 
Puzzles”. In the outset, and in between the lines, we are told 
that “I'm the supreme intellect, and I created Python”.
This seems impressive, except that the tech geekers due to their 
ignorance of sociology as well as lack of analytic abilities of the 
mathematician, do not know that creating a language is a act that 
requires little qualifications. However, creating a language that is 
used by a lot people takes considerable skill, and a big part of that 
skill is salesmanship. Guido seems to have done it well and seems to 
continue selling it well, where, he can put up a title of 
belittlement and get away with it too.
Gaudy title aside, let's look at the content of his say. If you 
peruse the 700 words, you'll find that it amounts to that Guido does 
not like the suggested lambda fix due to its multi-line nature, and 
says that he don't think there could possibly be any proposal he'll 
like. The reason? Not much! Zen is bantered about, mathematician's 
impractical ways is waved, undefinable qualities are given, human's 
right brain (neuroscience) is mentioned for support, Rube Goldberg 
contrivance phraseology is thrown, and coolness of Google Inc is 
reminded for the tech geekers (in juxtaposition of a big notice that 
Guido works there.).
If you are serious, doesn't this writing sounds bigger than its 
content? Look at the gorgeous ending: “This is also the reason why 
Python will never have continuations, and even why I'm uninterested 
in optimizing tail recursion. But that's for another installment.”.
This benevolent geeker is gonna give us another INSTALLMENT!
There is a computer language leader by the name of Larry Wall, who 
said that “The three chief virtues of a programmer are: Laziness, 
Impatience and Hubris” among quite a lot of other ingenious 
outpourings. It seems to me, the more i learn about Python and its 
leader, the more similarities i see.
So Guido, i understand that selling oneself is a inherent and 
necessary part of being a human animal. But i think the lesser beings 
should be educated enough to know that fact. So that when minions 
follow a leader, they have a clear understanding of why and what.
----
Regarding the lambda in Python situation... conceivably you are right 
that Python lambda is perhaps at best left as it is crippled, or even 
eliminated. However, this is what i want: I want Python literatures, 
and also in Wikipedia, to cease and desist stating that Python 
supports functional programing. (this is not necessarily a bad 
publicity) And, I want the Perl literatures to cease and desist 
saying they support OOP. But that's for another installment.
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 Xah
 xah at xahlee.org
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