Sleep command

[Jeff Shannon]

In article <mailman.1020450727.26337.python-list at python.org>, 
holger krekel says...
> Jeff Shannon wrote:
> > In article <mailman.1020420187.1268.python-list at python.org>, 
> > holger krekel says...
> > > 
> > > import time
> > > time.sleep(30)
> > > 
> > > and time should stand still for 30 seconds.
> > > btw, i would rather call it 'statement','command' or 'code' than
> > > 'specification'.
> > 
> > Picking nits here, but I would call it a function, because that 
> > is exactly what it is.  I most certainly would *not* call it a 
> > statement -- that term has a definite meaning in this context, 
> > and sleep() is *not* a statement.  :)
> 
> picking nits here, but how is 'sleep(30)' or 'time.sleep(30)' 
> a function? 

Very well, then, sleep (or time.sleep) is a function, which is 
called with an argument of 30 in the specified expression.  
Whether that expression is a statement or not depends on the 
context in which it is placed.

> nit picking is what many of us ware best at on this list, i guess.
> After all it often makes a difference :-)

Yes, it does... and while, at a certain level, 'sleep(30)' could 
be seen as technically a statement (but only if it appears on a 
line by itself), calling it a statement is likely to lead to 
confusion of the inexperienced, when they later learn of the 
difference between expressions and statements.  For instance, 
statements may not be used in a lambda, but 'sleep(30)' could be.  
This could confuse someone who has been told that 'sleep(30)' is 
a statement.

-- 

Jeff Shannon
Technician/Programmer
Credit International