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[Python-Dev] replacing 'global'

Guido van Rossum guido at python.org
Tue Oct 28 10:27:45 EST 2003 
> Augmented assignment does not currently automatically invoke a
> "global" definition now, so why should that change no matter the
> outcome of this discussion?

Because of the fair user expectation that if you can write "x = x + 1"
you should also be able to write "x += 1".


> Is there really any need to allow anything more then replicating the
> search order for variable _reference_? Code which nests sufficient
> scopes that a simple 'inside-out' search is not sufficient would
> just seem sorely in need of a redesign to me. . .

I just realized one thing that explains why I prefer explicitly
designating the scope (as in 'global x in f') over something like
'nonlocal'.  It matches what the current global statement does, and it
makes it crystal clear that you *can* declare a variable in a specific
scope and assign to it without requiring there to be a binding for
that variable in the scope itself.  EIBTI when comparing these two.

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)
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