[Python-ideas] Definition Symmetry

[Chris Angelico]

On Fri, Feb 1, 2013 at 5:11 AM, Ned Batchelder <ned at nedbatchelder.com> wrote:
> I think parens for super class are an unfortunate syntax, since it looks
> just like arguments to the class and is confusing for some beginners:
>
>     def function(arg):
>         ...
>     function(10)            # Similar syntax: 10 corresponds to arg
>
>     class Thing(Something):
>         ...
>     thing = Thing(10)    # How does 10 relate to Something? It doesn't.
>
> A better syntax (which I AM NOT PROPOSING) would be:
>
>     class Thing from Something:

What about

class Thing = Something:
  pass

I am not proposing this either, but it would emphasize the difference
between superclasses and __init__ args.

But really, parens are used in many different ways. There doesn't need
to be a logical parallel between generator expressions and function
calls, for instance.

ChrisA