Simulating "getopt" in functions (newbie)

[Chris Liechti]

Thorsten Kampe <thorsten at thorstenkampe.de> wrote in 
news:aldm7h$1orqou$1 at ID-77524.news.dfncis.de:

> Hi,
> 
> I want to simulate a "getopt"-like behaviour within a _function_. This 
> is to avoid having to define two functions: "function" and 
> "slightly_different_function".
> 
> If the function was a standalone program, it would work like this 
> ("v" for "verbose"):
> 
> $ function.py 5
> 1
> 
> $ function.py -v 5
> The result is: 1
> 
> I've thought of this to simulate it in a function:
> def function(a, b=None):
>     if b == "v":
>         print "The result is: 1"
>     else:
>         print "1"
> 
>>>> function(5)
> 1
> 
>>>> function(5, "v")
> The result is: 1
> 
> So: what is the "pythonic", "natural" way to do this in Python?

your idea is right. i would however vary the details:
if you just want to swich something then somthing:
  def function(a, verbose=0):
or you could use the presence of a file object in a param:

  def function(a, output=None):
     if output is not None:
         output.write("The result is:)
     print "1"

and i wouldn't use string parameters directly like you did. i someone makes 
a typo within that string you wont get errors, but if you use a variable as 
indirection you get a name error:
VEROSE="v"
function(23, VEROSE)

and using numbers instead of string would be more efficient.

chris

-- 
Chris <cliechti at gmx.net>