[Python-Dev] PEP 318: Decorators last before colon (original) (raw)

Skip Montanaro skip at pobox.com
Thu Apr 1 08:43:22 EST 2004 

>> > [decorator] 
>> > def func(arg, arg):

Barry> I don't like it.  It already has a meaning (albeit fairly
Barry> useless) and it doesn't seem obvious from just looking at it that
Barry> the decorator is connected to the following method.  It doesn't
Barry> taste Pythonic to me.

I'm with Barry. It seems magic to me. If I write

def f():
    "doc"
    [47]
    return 3

today, although a bit weird, [47] doesn't affect the following statement in any way. Now the proposal (still, assuming this isn't an elaborate AFJ) on the table means to change the semantics of an unassigned list expression in one special case. I suggest:

Special cases aren't special enough to break the rules.

though I know someone will follow with

Although practicality beats purity.

IN this case there are other practical proposals on the table, not the least of which is the status quo.

Skip

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