[Python-3000] have zip() raise exception for sequences of different lengths (original) (raw)

Raymond Hettinger rhettinger at ewtllc.com
Thu Aug 31 18:12:44 CEST 2006


How about a keyword-only argument called finish which is a callable to deal with the problem? When any sequence is exhausted, its position is filled with StopIteration, and then finish(result) is returned.

How about we resist the urge to complicate the snot out of a basic looping construct. Hypergeneralization is more of a sin than premature optimization.

It is important that zip() be left as dirt simple as possible. In the tutorial (section 5.6), we're able to use short, simple examples to teach all of the fundamental looping techniques to total beginners in a way that lets them save their brain power for learning exceptions, classes, generators, packages, and whatnot.

Creative talent is being wasted here just to solve a non-problem.
Please keep Py3k on track for cruft removal. We're seeing way too much discussion on random, screwball proposals rather that focusing on what really matters: Keeping the tried and true while removing stuff we've always wanted to take away.

Raymond



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