sum works in sequences (Python 3)

[Steve Howell]

On Sep 19, 11:34 am, Ian Kelly <ian.g.ke... at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Wed, Sep 19, 2012 at 9:37 AM, Steve Howell <showel... at yahoo.com> wrote:
> > Sequences are iterables, so I'd say the docs are technically correct,
> > but maybe I'm misunderstanding what you would be trying to clarify.
>
> The doc string suggests that the argument to sum() must be a sequence,
> when in fact any iterable will do.  The restriction in the docs should
> be relaxed to match the reality.

Ah.  The docstring looks to be fixed in 3.1.3, but not in Python 2.


Python 3.1.3 (r313:86834, Mar 13 2011, 00:40:38)
[GCC 4.4.5] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> sum.__doc__
"sum(iterable[, start]) -> value\n\nReturns the sum of an iterable of
numbers (NOT strings) plus the value\nof parameter 'start' (which
defaults to 0).  When the iterable is\nempty, returns start."


Python 2.6.6 (r266:84292, Mar 13 2011, 00:35:19)
[GCC 4.4.5] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> sum.__doc__
"sum(sequence[, start]) -> value\n\nReturns the sum of a sequence of
numbers (NOT strings) plus the value\nof parameter 'start' (which
defaults to 0).  When the sequence is\nempty, returns start."
>>>