[Python-Dev] Decorators: vertical bar syntax (original) (raw)

Neil Hodgson nhodgson at bigpond.net.au
Sat Aug 7 08:10:54 CEST 2004

Edward Loper:

The new "vertical bar" syntax was proposed recently, and has gotten almost unanimously positive feedback. In particular, of 17 responses to the syntax, only one has been negative (see table, below). ... So I wanted to see if anyone has anything negative to say about this syntax (or one of its variants).

One advantage of '@' is that, since it is currently not found in Python code, it is a very strong escape that can be inserted anywhere. For example, if there is later a need or desire to annotate function arguments individually as well as functions, or individual statements or expressions, then @ is a better choice. For example

@RemoteCall def Ignite(engine @Remote, environment @Copy, thrust @Float):

may be better at associating annotations more closely with their targets than

@RemoteCall @Types(["p", "p", "f"]) @Copy("environment") def Ignite(engine, environment, thrust):

Neil

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