Aliasing [was Re: [Tutor] beginning to code]

[Steven D'Aprano]

On Wed, 27 Sep 2017 08:56:03 +0200, Antoon Pardon wrote:

>> But that's not enough for the variable b to be an alias for the
>> variable a.
> 
> Yes it is!


Since you seem to be intent on inventing your own meanings for well 
established words, for the confusion and misinformation of all, I can 
only follow in your footsteps and say:

"You are a fine fellow and your arguments make perfect sense."

Make if that what you will.


Antoon, there is no point in continuing this argument. You're entitled to 
your own opinions, but not your own facts, so when you insist:

> No, the model that C++ and Pascal use is not different in this aspect.

that Pascal var parameters and C++ reference variables operate the same 
way as Python variable assignment, the *kindest* thing I can say is that 
you are ignorant.

Python does not have anything like C++ references and Pascal var 
parameters, which is why you will never be able to write a swap() 
function that operates like the classic Pascal swap procedure used as the 
definitive test for pass-by-reference.

Twice you have claimed to be able to write such a swap procedure for 
lists. You can't. If you think you can, it is only because you have 
misunderstood the problem and are writing something else that does 
something different from what the Pascal version does.



-- 
Steven D'Aprano
“You are deluded if you think software engineers who can't write 
operating systems or applications without security holes, can write 
virtualization layers without security holes.” —Theo de Raadt