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syntax

Gordon McMillan gmcm at hypernet.com
Fri Jul 30 11:56:57 EDT 1999 
Xavier Bec writes:
> 
> Why are the double dots ":" necessary after a if, for or while
> instruction ?
> All the others instructions are terminated with a cariage return but
> not condition or loop ones. I know that a semi-column is facultative
> and only used if you have to put a second instruction on the same
> line. Why is not the same for if, etc.

>From the standpoint of parsing, the colon is redundant to the 
following INDENT. As I understand the history, their usage is 
mandatory because of user testing done on ABC, which was one of a 
host of influences on the design of Python.

For some reason, the dominant hominid specie of planet Earth is 
uncomfortable without a certain level of redundancy. Some members 
thereof have taken this predeliction to ridiculous extremes, creating 
languages such as "Java".

Nanu-Nanu-ly y'rs

- Gordon
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