Securing a future for anonymous functions in Python

[Alan Gauld]

On Thu, 30 Dec 2004 23:28:46 +1000, Nick Coghlan
<ncoghlan at iinet.net.au> wrote:

> GvR has commented that he want to get rid of the lambda keyword for Python 3.0. 
> Getting rid of lambda seems like a worthy goal, 

Can I ask what the objection to lambda is? 
1) Is it the syntax?
2) Is it the limitation to a single expression?
3) Is it the word itself?

I can sympathise with 1 and 2 but the 3rd seems strange since a
lambda is a well defined name for an anonymous function used in
several programming languages and originating in lambda calculus
in math. Lambda therefore seems like a pefectly good name to
choose.

So why not retain the name lambda but extend or change the syntax
to make it more capable rather than invent a wholly new syntax
for lambdas?

Slightly confused, but since I only have time to read these
groups regularly when I'm at home I have probably missed the bulk
of the discussion over the years.

Alan G.
Author of the Learn to Program website
http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/alan.gauld