Variables variable

[Ivan Van Laningham]

Hi All--

Cameron Laird wrote:
>                     .
> 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.
>

I don't know if this dictionary insight is Cameron's, but my experience
with Python has been that when I'm developing something from scratch,
I'll start with a big pile of cruft.  "I think I'll need this.  Oh, and
that, too.  And what about this!  Oooh, cool!"  Then I start carving
away the excess.  It usually takes two or three iterations at carving to
realize that whatever it is needs a dictionary.  I have never seen a
case where a dictionary didn't improve the design.  +1QOTW.

Well.  Storing a Mayan number/date as a dictionary turned out to be a
Spectacularly Bad Idea(tm);-), so I guess that's one case.

Metta,
Ivan
----------------------------------------------
Ivan Van Laningham
God N Locomotive Works
http://www.andi-holmes.com/
http://www.foretec.com/python/workshops/1998-11/proceedings.html
Army Signal Corps:  Cu Chi, Class of '70
Author:  Teach Yourself Python in 24 Hours