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[Python-Dev] "and" and "or" operators in Py3.0

Michael Hudson mwh at python.net
Tue Sep 20 10:11:36 CEST 2005 
"Raymond Hettinger" <raymond.hettinger at verizon.net> writes:

> I propose that in Py3.0, the "and" and "or" operators be simplified to
> always return a Boolean value instead of returning the last evaluated
> argument.

-1

> 2) When going back and forth between languages, it is easy to forget
> that only Python returns something other than a boolean.

As others point out, this isn't true.

> 3) Even when it isn't being used, the possibility of non-boolean return
> value complicates the bytecode and parser.  To allow for "and/or", the
> conditional opcodes leave the tested value on the stack.

Huh?  I thought this was for chained expressions?  Things like 1 < x < 3.

I _like_ the explanation of 'and' and 'or' as they are now.  They are
basically control flow constructs -- and have to be to get
short-circuiting to work -- and adding a coercion to bool at the end
seems to add complexity, not reduce it (on some levels, anyway).

> P.S.  Simplifying "and" and "or" may create a need to introduce a
> conditional operator but that is a discussion for another day.

... which was in the past, I thought.

Cheers,
mwh

-- 
  The meaning of "brunch" is as yet undefined.
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