[Python-Dev] [Python-checkins] peps: Pre-alpha draft for PEP 435 (enum). The name is not important at the moment, as (original) (raw)

Ethan Furman ethan at stoneleaf.us
Tue Feb 26 00:28:37 CET 2013

On 02/25/2013 03:22 PM, Greg Ewing wrote:

Ethan Furman wrote:

I must admit I find it mildly amusing (but a lot frustrating) that we are talk about /enumerations/ not needing to be based on ints. Checking out Merrian-Webster gives this:

Definition of ENUMERATE 1 : to ascertain the number of : count 2 : to specify one after another : list It depends on what you mean by "based on ints". Pascal enums are using the second definition here: the values have ints associated with them, but are not themselves ints. There are really two different use cases. Sometimes you want to have values that are directly substitutable for ints; other times you would rather not, so as to catch mistakes more easily.

I agree. I think whichever enum ends up in the stdlib should support both types (and possibly a couple other variations).

-- Ethan

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