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

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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