[Python-Dev] extended slicing for lists

[Ka-Ping Yee]

On 28 Jul 2000, Michael Hudson wrote:
>   >>> l = range(10)
>   >>> l[2:10:2] = [0]*5
>   >>> l
>   [0, 1, 0, 3, 0, 5, 0, 7, 0, 9]
>   >>>

Hmph.  I'd be perfectly comfortable with

    >>> l[2:10:2] = [0]*5
    TypeError: lists cannot assign to stepped slices

I can't see this being a commonly desired feature.  If it
were perfectly clear what should happen in all cases, i'd
be okay with it -- but the ambiguity you get when the length
of the right side doesn't match the length of the indicated
slice is sufficient for me to suggest just dropping it:
better to avoid confusion altogether.

> (and presumably del l[a:b:c])

That seems reasonable and well-defined.


A separate question: does l[::-1] return l reversed?  That is,
are the defaults for omitted start/end exchanged if step is
negative?  This would seem to be quite useful -- having to say
l[len(l)-1:-1:-1] would be a royal pain.


-- ?!ng