Strict mode?

[Larry Bates]

Jack wrote:
> While enjoying the dynamic feature of Python I find it difficult to refactor 
> code without breaking it. For example, if I modify a function to take more 
> arguments, or arguments of different types, I'll need to manually find out 
> all places where the function is called and make sure I modify them all, 
> unlike in C/Java, where the compiler will do the work of checking function 
> signatures, etc. I suppose there isn't a strict mode in Python. It would be 
> helpful though, when I don't need things to be so dynamic, and this is often 
> the case, when it comes to function arguments and return values, for 
> example. Even a module level or function level flag would be very helpful to 
> find broken code. Or, are there any third party tools that do this? 
> 
> 

 > if I modify a function to take more
 > arguments, or arguments of different types, I'll need to manually find out
 > all places where the function is called and make sure I modify them all

This is not necessarily true.  I add keyword arguments to functions quite 
commonly and they don't affect any of the previously defined calls.  If I do, a 
good editor with search/replace seems to do the trick.  I find it quite uncommon 
to change the "types" of arguments, but when I do, I can use duck typing to work 
around that as well.  Hang in there, you will get it.

-Larry