why sqrt is not a built-in function?

[Michael F. Stemper]

On 15/01/2021 16.01, Chris Angelico wrote:
> On Sat, Jan 16, 2021 at 8:56 AM Michael F. Stemper <mstemper at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> On 15/01/2021 15.26, Stefan Ram wrote:
>>> "Michael F. Stemper" <mstemper at gmail.com> writes:
>>>> On 15/01/2021 14.01, Stefan Ram wrote:

>>>>> __import__( "math" ).sqrt( 4 )
>>>> I had no idea that syntax existed, and find it completely at odds
>>>> with The Zen of Python. I'm torn between forgetting that I ever saw
>>>> it and using it for some evilly-obfuscated code.
>>>
>>>     When one collects snippets of Python code that are intended
>>>     to be inserted into programs, a snippet usually would have
>>>     to consist of two parts: One part to be inserted at the top
>>>     of the program, into the imports section, and then the actual
>>>     snippet.
>>>     "__import__" allows to write snippets that can be inserted
>>>     as they are without the need to do insertions at two different
>>>     places. (Possibly with a tool to later normalize the insertions
>>>     to the usual style.)
> 
> I'm not sure how that works. In Python, you can just put the imports
> where you want them - why would the __import__ function be needed?

I have no idea what PEP-8 has to say on the subject. However, my coding
style *generally* puts all of the imports up front, right after the
prologue (program description, revision history, uzw).

> I am confuzzed.

It's a common condition.


-- 
Michael F. Stemper
Life's too important to take seriously.