[Python-Dev] Call for defense of @decorators (original) (raw)

Guido van Rossum guido at python.org
Thu Aug 5 18:36:36 CEST 2004

It seems a public outcry against @decorators has started. When I let Anthony check it in for 2.4a2, the plan was to see how it fares in a2 and a3, and possibly take it out in 2.4b1. If you don't want that to happen, you might want to say something in public in defense of @decorators.

We also need help updating the PEP; it doesn't mention @decorators, and it doesn't even begin to mention the pro and con of many other suggestions (does it say why "def decorator func(...)" was rejected?). I don't have time for any of this; I can barely make time for a few emails per day. Perhaps the @advocates can elect or volunteer a PEP editor.

I really don't care if everybody thinks it's ugly. I do care to find out about usability issues. For example, it may cause problems for Leo, but I don't know how bad that is. I also want to find out about superior syntax proposals (from future import decorators might be acceptable).

An argument about timing: IMO there's no point in putting it off until 2.5 -- the syntax options don't get prettier, backwards compatibility issues don't get easier by waiting, and as it is it will probably take a year from 2.4's release in December before it is the mainstream Python version.

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)

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