[Python-Dev] Adding a conditional expression in Py3.0 (original) (raw)

Thomas Lotze tl at gocept.com
Wed Sep 21 00:59:49 CEST 2005

Barry Warsaw wrote:

x = (if a then b elif c then d else e ) [...] I guess that's my point. To me, your latter is actually worse than if a: x = b elif c: x = d else: x = e

Can't see a difference as far as readability is concerned. But then, tastes differ.

I think the conditional stuff gets the most bang for the buck in situations like:

d[foo] = if a then b else c

And I think similar holds for LCs and GEs. Unwinding a complex sequence of for and if clauses is certainly no fun unless one is really used to it. (Which doesn't take long, though.)

But your example poses another question: Up until now, I had the impression that parentheses should be mandatory around a conditional expression. There's certainly no avoiding them in situations like (if x then 1 else 2) + 3. But what about unambiguous cases like your example line?

-- Thomas

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