[Python-Dev] Re: Stability and change (original) (raw)

Michael Hudson mwh@python.net
08 Apr 2002 12:56:47 +0100

Tim Peters <tim.one@comcast.net> writes:

The first textbook I had on mathematical logic was Stephen Kleene's (yes, that Kleene) cheerfully named "Mathematical Logic". The first chapter contained a warning to the student:

It will be very important as we proceed to keep in mind this distinction between the logic we are studying (the object logic) and our use of logic in studying it (the observer's logic). To any student who is not ready to do so, we suggest that he close the book now, and pick some other subject instead, such as acrostics or beekeeping.

Can you say "downward Skolem-Loewenheim"?

For this reason, I suggest naming the hypothetical "forward and backward compatible forever more" Python branch the "Python Acrostics and Beekeeping" branch.

Suits me.

Cheers, M.

-- I never realized it before, but having looked that over I'm certain I'd rather have my eyes burned out by zombies with flaming dung sticks than work on a conscientious Unicode regex engine. -- Tim Peters, 3 Dec 1998