Variables variable

[Cameron Laird]

In article <3ckeukF6n53cpU1 at individual.net>,
Reinhold Birkenfeld  <reinhold-birkenfeld-nospam at wolke7.net> wrote:
>Adriano Monteiro wrote:
>> Hi folks,
>> 
>> Someone know how to make variables variable like in PHP?
>> It's something like this:
>> 
>> $a = 'hi'
>> $$a = 'testing'
>> echo $hi
>> 'testing'
>
>You are most certainly wanting to use dictionaries.
>
>Or, if you work with attributes of an object, use getattr.
			.
			.
			.
I have a few comments on this:  Python can do essentially what
PHP does.  One means is the getattr() Reinhold cites.

HOWEVER, it's generally always a mistake to do so.  Dictionaries
are simply better.  AND THAT'S TRUE IN PHP, too.  I'm frankly 
disappointed in PHP leaders that they continue to promote this
"variable-variable" idiom.  As much as anything is certain in
the realm of stylistic expression, dictionaries are a superior
mechanism.