[Python-Dev] pprint(iterator)

[Matthew Wilkes]

On 29 Jan 2009, at 21:54, Nick Coghlan wrote:

> For the "reiterable" cases like dictionary views (where the object is
> not consumed), an appropriate __str__ or __repr__ should be written).

Indeed, instead of having a __pprint__ why not just allow a __repr__  
to reformat its output?

dict having:
def __repr__(self, pretty=False):
     if pretty:
         return "{\n  a: 1\n  b: 2\n}"
     else:
         return "{a: 1, b: 2}"

That way you can specify your own pretty format, intending it to still  
be a valid __repr__ and pprint can do:

try:
     print(obj.__repr__(pretty=True))
except TypeError:
     print(prettify(repr(obj)))

That way it's opt in, doesn't have a special method, and includes the  
mental prompt "this should eval() to obj"

Matt