Are multiple return values really harmful? (Re: determining the number of output arguments)

Bengt Richter bokr at oz.net
Thu Nov 18 22:40:30 EST 2004


On Thu, 18 Nov 2004 11:16:31 -0800, Jeff Shannon <jeff at ccvcorp.com> wrote:

>Bengt Richter wrote:
>
>>Maybe keyword unpacking could spell that with a '**' assignment target,
>>e.g.,
>>
>>    ** = foo()  # update local bindings with all legal-name bindings in returned dict
>>  
>>
>
>I would *not* like to see this.  ISTM that, when reading a function, I 
>should be able to see where every name in that function came from.  
>Having global values appear from outside of the function is bad enough; 
>introducing a new way to magically create variables whose names I can't
                                    ^^^^^^
Not create, just rebind existing locals. 
>see would be (IMO) very, very bad.

All things in moderation. But I agree that you would have to know and trust foo ;-)

Regards,
Bengt Richter



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