Python syntax wart

[James Stroud]

Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:
> The one thing I don't like about Python syntax is using backslashes to
> continue lines. Yes, you can avoid them if you can include parentheses
> somehow, but this isn't always possible.
> 
> Possible:
> 
>     if (
>             quitting
>         and
>             len(client["to_write"]) == 0
>         and
>             len(client["read"]) + client["to_read"] == 0
>     ) :
>         close_client(client, "shutting down")
>     #end if
> 
> Not possible:
> 
>     for \
>         Link \
>     in \
>         GetEachRecord \
>           (
>             "links",
>             ("from_episode",),
>             "to_episode = %s",
>             [EpisodeID],
>             "order by when_created"
>           ) \
>     :
>         out.write \
>           (
>                 "<P><A HREF=\"%s\">Back to episode %d</A>\n"
>             %
>                 (
>                     LinkToMe({"ep" : Link["from_episode"]}),
>                     Link["from_episode"]
>                 )
>           )
>     #end for
>  


I usually write my code in a way that can be understood by looking at 
it, with self-documenting names, clear organization, and lines that fit 
under 72 characters (if I can help it). But if you insist on making perl 
noise, go 'head.


record_type = "links"
episodes = ("from_episode",)
format = "to_episodes = %s"
ids = [EpisodeID]
order = "order by when_created"

records = GetEachRecord(record_type, episodes, format, ids, order)

for Link in records:
   template = "<P><A HREF=\"%s\">Back to episode %d</A>\n"
   the_link = Link["from_episode"]
   target = LinkToMe({"ep" : Link["from_episode"]})

   msg = template % (target, the_link)

   out.write(msg)


James