Annoying octal notation

[James Harris]

On 3 Sep, 15:54, Albert van der Horst <alb... at spenarnc.xs4all.nl>
wrote:
> In article <mailman.346.1251135629.2854.python-l... at python.org>,
> Derek Martin  <c... at pizzashack.org> wrote:
>
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> >--W1uEbMXJ1Mj4g6TI
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> >On Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 05:03:28PM +0000, Steven D'Aprano wrote:
> >> On Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:21:46 -0500, Derek Martin wrote:
> >> > since the old syntax is prevalent both within and without the
> >> > Python community, making the change is, was, and always will be a
> >> > bad idea.
>
> >> Octal syntax isn't prevalent *at all*, except in a small number of
> >> niche areas.
>
> >Steven, don't be obtuse.  Where octal is used in programming, the
> >leading zero is prevalent.
>
> That is not the point. Octal is not prevalent. Leading zero's have
> a mathematical sound meaning. The convention is changed because
> every new user to Python will fall once into this trap.
> For a person not familiar with C or the like this will be a
> hair pulling, nail byting, head banging situation.
> A mathematician might even think he is gone mad.
>
> Regarding you, you will probably have noticed by now that it is
> going to change, so you will not pull your hair, byte your nails

The first time you wrote, "byte your nails," I thought you meant it as
a pun. But since you've mentioned it twice....

James