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[Python-Dev] What if we didn't have repr?

Guido van Rossum guido at python.org
Tue May 21 15:36:54 CEST 2013 
Actually changing __str__ or __repr__ is out of the question, best we can
do is discourage makingbthem different. But adding a protocol for pprint
(with extra parameters to convey options) is a fair idea. I note that Nick
sggested to use single-dispatch generic functions for this though. Both
have pros and cons. Post design ideas to python-ideas please, not here!

--Guido

On Tuesday, May 21, 2013, Łukasz Langa wrote:

> On 20 maj 2013, at 03:46, Guido van Rossum <guido at python.org<javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', 'guido at python.org');>>
> wrote:
>
> On Sun, May 19, 2013 at 4:27 PM, Gregory P. Smith <greg at krypto.org<javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', 'greg at krypto.org');>>
> wrote:
>
> Now you've got me wondering what Python would be like if repr, `` and
> __repr__ never existed as language features. Upon first thoughts, I
> actually
> don't see much downside (no, i'm not advocating making that change).
> Something to ponder.
>
>
> I have pondered it many times, although usually in the form "Why do we
> need both str and repr?"
>
>
> What if we did the opposite?
>
> 1. Make __str__() a protocol for arbitrary string conversion.
> 2. Move the current __repr__() contracts, both firm and informal to a new,
> extensible version of pprint.
>
> There has been some discussion led by Raymond in 2010 about a general
> `pprint rewrite`__ and I'm willing to pick up the idea with a PEP for
> inclusion in 3.4.
>
>
>
> __ http://bugs.python.org/issue7434
>
> --
> Best regards,
> Łukasz Langa
>
> WWW: http://lukasz.langa.pl/
> Twitter: @llanga
> IRC: ambv on #python-dev
>
>

-- 
--Guido van Rossum (python.org/~guido)
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