[Python-Dev] Re: PEP 326: A Case for All (original) (raw)

John Hazen john at hazen.net
Sun Jan 4 22:14:47 EST 2004

Hi Josiah-

Others have commented on the suitability of your name "All". I wanted to point out that in the paragraph above, you resort to calling it "infinity" when talking about it. I think this is telling as to the readability of the name "All". If it doesn't make sense to use the name in discussion, what makes you think it will make sense in a program?

Since we're really talking about "infinity" here (its only use is in comparison), why not just call it that? I've heard you make two points for the name "All" -- that it's easier to type than "Infinity", and that it's (in some way) analagous to "None". To me, one of the strengths of python is its emphasis on readability, even (sometimes) at the expense of ease of typing. Also, "All" only has an analogue to one of the uses of None (which, as others have mentioned, is not the primary use).

So, to get around the resistance to this because of the name (Guido begged for a better name than "Some", but I think "All" is just as bad), why not just change it to "Infinity"?

If the asymmetry of None and Infinity bothers you, I would suggest also proposing a NegativeInfinity, and we could consider eventually deprecating comparisons on None.

-John

P.S. - Hello, py-dev'ers. This is my first post, but I've been lurking for quite a while. Thank you all for creating a great language! I'll introduce myself more completely within a few weeks, when I find a way to begin contributing.

More information about the Python-Dev mailing list