[Python-Dev] Switch statement

[Georg Brandl]

Ka-Ping Yee wrote:
> On Wed, 21 Jun 2006, Phillip J. Eby wrote:
>> Well, EIBTI and all that:
>>
>>      switch x:
>>          case == 1: foo(x)
>>          case in S: bar(x)
>>
>> It even lines up nicely.  :)
> 
> Hmm, this is rather nice.  I can imagine possible use cases for
> 
>     switch x:
>         case > 3: foo(x)
>         case is y: spam(x)

Ha, a slight reminiscence of BASIC...

>         case == z: eggs(x)
> 
> An interesting use case for which this offers no corresponding
> syntax is
> 
>         case instanceof ClassA: ham(x)
> 
> which doesn't work because Python spells a type test as
> isinstance(a, b) rather than with an operator.  (I suppose
> whether we want it to be an operator might be another
> question to think about for Python 3000.)

FWIW, I like "is a" most, but there's no way to spell this
as one word without confusing readers.

Georg