[Python-Dev] Half-baked proposal: * (and **?) in assignments

[Brett Cannon]

[Gareth McCaughan]

> Since
>
>     def f(a,b,*c): ...
>     f(1,2,3,4,5)
>
> does (in effect) a=1, b=2, c=(3,4,5), I suggest that
>
>     a,b,*c = 1,2,3,4,5
>
> should do a=1, b=2, c=(3,4,5) too. Likewise,
>
>     a,b,c,d,e = 1,2,*(3,4,5)
>
> should be parallel to
>
>     def f(a,b,c,d,e): ...
>     f(1,2,*(3,4,5))
>

This just strikes me as YAGNI.  I have never felt the need to have this
kind of assignment outside of parameter passing.  If this kind of
assignment is that big of a deal you can just use slicing.  I realize the
same argument can be used for parameter arguments, but the reason for
having *args and **kwargs is to allow more general functions and I just
don't feel this is needed for assignment.

This might all seem rather weak and vague, but my gut is just saying this
is not a good idea.

So -1 from me unless this feeling is from indigestion.

-Brett