4 ms·

Python isn't just Java without the compile

12 points by rams 18y ago

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rbanffy 18y ago
Try that in Java: class NullReceiver(object): class SimpleCallable(object): def __call__(self, *args): pass def __getattr__(self, name): print 'unhandled method "%s" called' % name return nullReceiver.SimpleCallable()
rbanffy 18y ago
Or that (this one is in Ruby): s = 'a' class String def rghize return self + 'rgh' end end puts s.rghize
benreesman 18y ago
"In some ways it makes the problem easier when you can assume the user is a good programmer. Language designers often find themselves worrying about the mess users might make if they were allowed to do such-and-such. Once you assume the user is a good programmer, you automatically have the answer to any such question: let the user do whatever he wants." - pg "About 12 years ago, Python aquired lambda, reduce(), filter() and map(), courtesy of (I believe) a Lisp hacker who missed them and submitted working patches. But, despite of the PR value, I think these features should be cut from Python 3000." - gvr Remember: Python's not broken, you are.
k4st 18y ago
The example given in the articles entirely fails to describe functions as being first-class citizens. Python also lacks full continuations, unless the article is referring to Stackless Python. What is described in the article as continuations are actually generators. Finally, the meta-programming described in the article, while valid, really only scratches the surface of what's possible with meta classes in Python.
- jlujan 18y ago
  This article is a poorly done "look how smart I am". First, the title makes little sense. If you were going to compare and contrast Python to Java, this first thing to come to mind would be static typing, not a compile step. Second, I was going to complain about the first-class functions as well. By his example, PHP has first class functions as well because you can define a function out side of a class. But we all know PHP does not, in fact, have first class functions because you cannot pass a function as an argument or return a function as a value from another function in PHP. I think you can get the point across better with this example... def fun_factory(scale): def inner_func(arg1,arg2): return scale * ( arg1 + arg2) return inner_func class myclass(object): def __init__(self,scale_func): self.better_example = scale_func if __name__ == "__main__": print fun_factory(10)(5,5) myinst = myclass(fun_factory(10)) print myinst.better_example(5,5)

12 points by rams 18y ago

deleted 18y ago

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deleted 18y ago

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rbanffy 18y ago

Try that in Java: class NullReceiver(object): class SimpleCallable(object): def __call__(self, *args): pass def __getattr__(self, name): print 'unhandled method "%s" called' % name return nullReceiver.SimpleCallable()

rbanffy 18y ago

Or that (this one is in Ruby): s = 'a' class String def rghize return self + 'rgh' end end puts s.rghize

benreesman 18y ago

"In some ways it makes the problem easier when you can assume the user is a good programmer. Language designers often find themselves worrying about the mess users might make if they were allowed to do such-and-such. Once you assume the user is a good programmer, you automatically have the answer to any such question: let the user do whatever he wants." - pg "About 12 years ago, Python aquired lambda, reduce(), filter() and map(), courtesy of (I believe) a Lisp hacker who missed them and submitted working patches. But, despite of the PR value, I think these features should be cut from Python 3000." - gvr Remember: Python's not broken, you are.

k4st 18y ago

The example given in the articles entirely fails to describe functions as being first-class citizens. Python also lacks full continuations, unless the article is referring to Stackless Python. What is described in the article as continuations are actually generators. Finally, the meta-programming described in the article, while valid, really only scratches the surface of what's possible with meta classes in Python.

jlujan 18y ago
This article is a poorly done "look how smart I am". First, the title makes little sense. If you were going to compare and contrast Python to Java, this first thing to come to mind would be static typing, not a compile step. Second, I was going to complain about the first-class functions as well. By his example, PHP has first class functions as well because you can define a function out side of a class. But we all know PHP does not, in fact, have first class functions because you cannot pass a function as an argument or return a function as a value from another function in PHP. I think you can get the point across better with this example... def fun_factory(scale): def inner_func(arg1,arg2): return scale * ( arg1 + arg2) return inner_func class myclass(object): def __init__(self,scale_func): self.better_example = scale_func if __name__ == "__main__": print fun_factory(10)(5,5) myinst = myclass(fun_factory(10)) print myinst.better_example(5,5)