[Python-Dev] Chaining try statements: eltry? (original) (raw)

Gustavo Niemeyer gustavo at niemeyer.net
Fri Jul 8 00:15:26 CEST 2005

> > How would a PEP to remove this feature fare today?

I hope not well, since I use them quite often.

Barry also reiterated this idea and I support removing them in Python 3000. I do use them when I want to know when I break out of a loop prematurely, but I am definitely not a typical use case for experienced users since I basically learned how to program in Python so I didn't have any baggage preventing me from not remembering they existed.

So you're indeed an example that learning them might not be an issue, even when no previous programming experience exists.

For the case of an experienced programmer getting into Python as a new language, most of us have been there, and I remember that, when I understood what it was about, I was actually amazed rather than confused. I started wondering why it's not available in other languages.

Simplifying the basic control flow mechanisms is always good. [...]

Of course, it largely depends on what simplifying means to you.

As a side comment, I belive that talking often and at regular intervals about builtins and syntax which may disappear from the language in the next major version is not something good.

I understand that the next major is being seen as the place to break legacy compatibility, but that's the kind of thing that you (Guido) are aware that no comments besides personal likes and dislikes will be raised. If you really want to remove them (even though I strongly dislike the idea ;-), decide it and get just half of the complaints, rather than getting all of them and spreading FUD.

-- Gustavo Niemeyer http://niemeyer.net

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