The “does Python have variables?” debate
Ben Finney
ben at benfinney.id.au
Thu May 8 04:34:21 EDT 2014
Ned Batchelder <ned at nedbatchelder.com> writes:
> I thought we were concerned with beginners incorrectly thinking Python
> worked like C, but this [pseudocode] is nothing like C.
I'm not concerned about where these misconceptions come from, whether C
or any other language.
The concern is that the term “variable”'s existing baggage in the
programming community encourages *false inferences* that a beginner
doesn't even realise they're drawing. By discouraging use of that term
and replacing it with “name binding” or “reference”, a more accurate
model is implied, to the extent that its existing baggage encourages
significantly fewer false inferences.
(good sigmonster, have a cookie)
--
\ “We suffer primarily not from our vices or our weaknesses, but |
`\ from our illusions.” —Daniel J. Boorstin, historian, 1914–2004 |
_o__) |
Ben Finney
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