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> My main problem with Python: passing a temporary closure to a function is very messy. What's messy about it?

• amelius 8y ago
  Python syntax is built around indentation. Try to properly indent a function that you pass to another function. And what if you have to pass two such functions? Where do you place the comma that separates both arguments?
  • aldanor 8y ago
    You can't define a function via 'def' and pass it as an argument at the same time. You can do it via 'lambda' though (which doesn't require any indentation since it's just an expression), what's the problem with it? >>> (lambda f: lambda x: f(x) * 2)(lambda x: x + 1)(100) 202
    • amelius 8y ago
      So the problem is that you can only inline expressions; you can't inline let-blocks (assignments), or multiple statements. The usefulness is very limited.
  • hueving 8y ago
    You pass functions just like any other argument. clos = 42 def foo(x): return x + clos def bar(y): return y * clos higher_order(foo, bar) What's so hard about that?
    • amelius 8y ago
      Here's a challenge: try inlining the foo and bar in the call (because this is how functions are typically composed in functional programming) You could do this with a lambda construct in Python; but this only works if the function has a single expression-statement; it doesn't work e.g. when you have a bunch of assignments inside the function you are inlining.
      • hueving 8y ago
        >Here's a challenge: try inlining the foo and bar in the call (because this is how functions are typically composed in functional programming) Sure, it's ugly but I think it's a silly challenge. Complex functions defined in the function call are un-maintainable anyway IMO.