[Python-Dev] Questions/comments on documentation formatting (original) (raw)

Scott Dial scott+python-dev at scottdial.com
Tue Jan 20 04:02:04 CET 2009

Brett Cannon wrote:

3. Are brackets for optional arguments (e.g. ``def fxn(a [, b=None [, c=None]])``) really necessary when default argument values are present? And do we really need to nest the brackets when it is obvious that having on optional argument means the rest are optional as well?

I can't think of an example off the top of my head, but I'm certain the point of nesting the brackets is to delimit the optional arguments into groups. Documenting your fxn() examples as "fxn(a [, b=None, c=None])" would imply that if you provide 'b' then you must provide 'c', or if we abandon nested brackets, it's ambiguous as to the requirements. Imagine seeing "foo(a [, b=None, c=None [, d=None]])" and I think the rationale for such notation becomes clear.

-- Scott Dial scott at scottdial.com scodial at cs.indiana.edu

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