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

Terry Reedy tjreedy at udel.edu
Sat Aug 7 23:57:57 CEST 2004

"Guido van Rossum" <guido at python.org> wrote in message news:200408071612.i77GCcK10255 at guido.python.org...

Do we have to add 'currently' to every statement about the language?

Of course not. I would draw the line with one more.

I really want to take a hard stance on this

In that case, perhaps we should draw the line at one less and remove the current 'currently'. Then, no one like me could cite it as precedent;-).

I don't think their argument would have a chance in court.

Depends on the lawyers. As their lawyer, I would argue something like the followihng: 1. Programming, like the law, requires careful writing. In addition to the C code, the Python Reference Manual is also carefully written. 2. While anything and everything could theoretically change in the next version, there are implicit and explicit promises that that will not happen. Also, some things are much more stable than others. 3. The Python manual uses 'forbidden' rarely. Its use is never necessary. Since the Ref Man is carefully written, its use must be intentional, to convey a nuance of meaning. The rational inference is that the nuance is that of considerably more permanence than for other things.

Enough, I think.

Terry J. Reedy

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