[Python-Dev] get for lists and tuples?

[Georg Brandl]

Russell E. Owen wrote:
> I'd like to have the get method available for lists and tuples. (I 
> figured this must have been discussed before but can't recall it and 
> didn't turn anything up on google).
> 
> It's obviously not a use-all-the-time method (or it'd already be there), 
> but I find myself wanting it often enough to justify it in my own mind 
> (and curse this omission, relative to dict).
> 
> Basically I run into it when parsing data of variable length (where the 
> extra elements have some obvious default value), including config files, 
> sys.argv (for simple command scripts), that sort of thing.
> 
> Yes a 4-liner does the job, but "get" would be a much clearer way to 
> write it.

A 4-liner?

x = (list[i:i+1] or (default,))[0]

is just one line ;) Honestly, often enough you can work around with slices
in one or the other way.

> Anyway, I'm just testing the waters. If it's not heresy then I'd like to 
> do what I can to make it happen.

IMO there's almost no chance this can go into 2.5.

Georg