[Python-Dev] any support for a methodcaller HOF?

Sun Feb 5 08:09:14 CET 2006

Terry Reedy wrote:
> "Nick Coghlan" <ncoghlan at gmail.com> wrote in message 
> news:43E4A10C.7020703 at gmail.com...
>> Hell no. If I want to write a real function, I already have perfectly 
>> good
>> syntax for that in the form of a def statement. I want to *increase* the
>> conceptual (and pedagogical) difference between deferred expressions and 
>> real
>> functions, not reduce it.
>> Mathematically, a function is a function. Expressions and statements are 
> two syntaxes for composing functions to create/define new functions. A few 
> languages use just one or the other. Python intentionally uses both. But 
> I think making an even bigger deal of surface syntax is exactly the wrong 
> movement, especially pedagogically.

I guess I misstated myself slightly - I've previously advocated re-using the 
'def' keyword, so there are obviously parallels I want to emphasize.
I guess my point is that expressions are appropriate sometimes, functions are 
appropriate other times, and it *is* possible to give reasonably simple 
guidelines as to which one is most appropriate when (one consumer->deferred 
expression, multiple consumers->named function).
I see it as similar to the choice of whether to use a generator function or 
generator expression in a given situation.
Cheers,
Nick.
-- 
Nick Coghlan | ncoghlan at gmail.com | Brisbane, Australia
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