[Python-Dev] Scoping vs augmented assignment vs sets (Re: 'fast locals' in Python 2.5) (original) (raw)

Boris Borcic bborcic at gmail.com
Wed Jun 14 17:09:40 CEST 2006

Josiah Carlson wrote:

The closure/class example is merely a method of encapsulating state, which I find easier to define, describe, and document than the closure version.

In the case of the code discussed, eg the actual model of

def solve(problem) : freebits = set(range(N)) def search(data) : .... freebits ^= swap ... search(initial_data) ...

the closure isn't used to encapsulate state if what you mean is passing "search" around as an interface to said state - search() is only for internal consumption and in fact exists only because of a quite opposite reason. Namely, the search requires copying parts of the state and this is most easily expressed with a recursive "search" inner function whose parameters are the copied parts.

Whatever you say, it doesn't feel adequate to me nor particularly clear to reify such a recursive inner abstraction as an object method. Especially in Python, I can't help reading the methods of a class declaration as intended primarily to define an external interface, which is misleading in this case.

I'd say a first step in convincing me I am wrong would be to show me examples of object methods of the standard library that are recursive, and cut out for recursion.

Regards,

Boris Borcic

"On naît tous les mètres du même monde"

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