[Python-Dev] Propose to reject PEP 313 -- Adding Roman Numeral Literals to Python

[Guido van Rossum]

+M to reject.

On 6/16/05, Raymond Hettinger <raymond.hettinger at verizon.net> wrote:
> While the majority of Python users deem this to be a nice-to-have
> feature, the community has been unable to reach a consensus on the
> proper syntax after more than two years of intensive debate (the PEP was
> introduced in early April 2003).
> 
> Most agree that there should be only-one-way-to-do-it; however, the
> proponents are evenly split into two camps, with the modernists
> preferring IX for nine and the classicists preferring VIIII which was
> the most likely spelling in ancient Rome.
> 
> The classicists not only rely on set-in-stone tradition, they point to
> pragmatic issues such as avoidance of subtraction, ease of coding,
> easier mental parsing (much less error prone), and ease of teaching to
> beginners.  They assert that the modernists have introduced unnecessary
> algorithmic complexity just to save two keystrokes.
> 
> The modernists point to compatible Java implementations and current
> grade school textbooks.  They believe that users from other languages
> will expect the IX form.  Note however, not all the modernists agree on
> whether MXM would be a well-formed spelling of 1990; most, but not all
> prefer MCMXC despite its likelihood of being mis-parsed on a first
> reading.
> 
> There is also a small but vocal user group demanding that lowercase
> forms be allowed.  Their use cases fall into four categories:  (i)
> academia, (ii) the legal profession, (iii) research paper writing, and
> (iv) powerpoint slideshows.  Reportedly, this is also a common
> convention among Perl programmers.
> 
> Links:
> 
> http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/waymac/History%20A/A%20Term%201/1.%20Rome/R
> oman_Numerals.htm
>     http://www.sizes.com/numbers/roman_numerals.htm
> 
> 
> Raymond
> 
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-- 
--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)