[Python-Dev] dict.merge()?

[Tim Peters]

[Jewett, Jim J]
> At the C level,
>
> 	PyDict_Update(old, new)
>
> is just a shortcut for
>
> 	override=1
> 	PyDict_Merge(old, new, override)

It is today, but that's a relatively new internal ability; IIRC, Guido added
it to help with the implementation of new-style classes.

> C extensions can use PyDict_Merge directly with override=0,
> which keeps the current value in case of duplicate keys.

Yes.

> Python code can only use update, which means that override
> is always true.

Yes.

> Is there a good reason this?

Dunno -- define "good" <0.5 wink>.