[Python-Dev] switch-based programming in Python
Martin v. Loewis
martin@v.loewis.de
Thu, 8 Nov 2001 17:51:32 +0100
> >> switch x:
> >> case 'foo':
> >> ...
> >> case 'bar':
> >> ...
> >> case 42:
> >> ...
>> If you restrict the case values to hashable literals do you need "case"?
I'm not going to draft a language extension here :-)
Syntactically, you don't need it - even if you allow arbitrary complex
expressions: you probably wouldn't allow any statements directly
nested into the switch. It may be that
switch x:
if 'foo':
...
elif 'bar':
...
is also acceptable, and doesn't need the new keyword.
> One new keyword would be easier than two for Guido to swallow...
You'd introduce it through a __future__ import, so it wouldn't matter
if it is one or two.
Regards,
Martin