[PYTHON MATRIX-SIG] Yorick, Python and Array.py

[James Hugunin]

> The advantages of Yorick can be added to Python but it requires some
> major work on some internals.  In a reply to one of my previous posts,
> Guido already said he doesn't mind someone submitting internal changes
> that keep the language backward compatible.

I'm not sure that this is true.  I've found that for my matrix object (on  
which I have received almost entirely good reviews from the testers) that  
this sort of indexing can be added very easily to python using mapping  
semantics (as Dave mentioned):

ie. a[[All,Empty,All]] <--> a(,-,)

I do think that it would be nice to remove that extra set of brackets,  
which Guido is also in favor of; however, I'm just not convinced that any  
further modifications are needed.

For your other examples:

a[[Star,2,3]] <--> a(*,2,3)

a[[Slice(1,10,2)]] <--> a(1:10:2)

I realize that the syntax in Yorick is a little bit more consise, but I'm  
just not convinced that such fundamental changes to the python core are in  
fact necessary.

Just my two cents worth,
Jim

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