[Python-Dev] Explicit Lexical Scoping (pre-PEP?) (original) (raw)

Talin talin at acm.org
Tue Jul 4 23:39:44 CEST 2006

Guido van Rossum wrote:

Please move this to the python-3000 list.

Also please explain what problem you are solving before proposing a solution. I note that we are seeing quite a flurry of language change proposals. I have to recommend restraint; I don't want to turn the entire language upside down. That's not a comment on this particular proposal, but on the issue of too many proposals. From actual users of the language I get more complaints about the breakneck speed of Python's evolution than about the brokenness of the current language. --Guido

Actually, the "problem" I am trying to solve is the debate on the mailing list. That is, I listen to what people are asking for, and what disagreements they have, and then I try to provide a solution that resolves the debate.

In this case, there was a lot of discussion about lexical scoping, and various people proposing solutions (such as redefining the behavior of 'global') that I thought were (a) problematic, and (b) not a lot of bang for the buck (i.e. the disruption vs. utility tradeoff was poor IMHO.)

To be honest, I really have no stake in this proposal, and I don't intend to spend any time defending it other than to correct misperceptions - however, I offer it as a potential starting point for people who are interested in the whole lexical scoping issue. If someone feels that this proposal gives them what they want, then great - otherwise I'll drop it.

-- Talin

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