[Python-Dev] repeated keyword arguments

[Steven D'Aprano]

On Sat, 28 Jun 2008 11:17:10 am Greg Ewing wrote:
> tomer filiba wrote:
> >  >>> def f(**kwargs):
> >
> > ...     print kwargs
> > ...
> >
> >  >>> f(a=5,b=7,a=8)
> >
> > {'a': 8, 'b': 7}
>
> I can't think of any reason why one would need to be
> able to write such code, or even want to.

It would be nice to be able to do this:

defaults = dict(a=5, b=7)
f(**defaults, a=8)  # override the value of a in defaults

but unfortunately that gives a syntax error. Reversing the order would 
override the wrong value. So as Python exists now, no, it's not 
terribly useful. But it's not inherently a stupid idea.


-- 
Steven