[Python-Dev] Let's just keep lambda (original) (raw)

Brett Cannon brett at python.org
Tue Feb 7 03:56:12 CET 2006

On 2/5/06, Guido van Rossum <guido at python.org> wrote:

After so many attempts to come up with an alternative for lambda, perhaps we should admit defeat. I've not had the time to follow the most recent rounds, but I propose that we keep lambda, so as to stop wasting everybody's talent and time on an impossible quest.

I have been thinking about this, and I have to say I am a little disappointed (-0 disappointed, not -1 disappointed). I honestly bought the argument for removing lambda. And I think that a deferred object would help with one of lambda's biggest uses and made its loss totally reasonable.

But I know that everyone and their email client is against me on this one, so I am not going to really try to tear into this. But I do think that lambda needs a renaming. Speaking as someone who still forgets that Python's lambda is not the same as those found in functional languages, I would much rather have it named 'expr' or 'expression' or something that is more inline with its abilities then with a name taken for CS historical reasons. This ain't for father's lambda and thus shouldn't be named so.

Then again, Guido did say he "should", not that he "did" admit defeat. =)

-Brett

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