[Tutor] Comparative code questions: Python vs. Rebol

[Scott Widney]

> Instead of having a series of very similar functions that make 
> almost-equivalent modifications to a string, it's much simpler
> to have a *single* function that takes a parameter to indicate
> which of several modifications to make.
> 
>  >>> def HtmlHeader(level, text):
> ...     return "<H%d>%s</H%d>" % (level, text, level)
> ...
>  >>> HtmlHeader(1, "This is level 1")
> '<H1>This is level 1</H1>'
>  >>> HtmlHeader(3, "This is level 3")
> '<H3>This is level 3</H3>'
>  >>> HtmlHeader(6, "This is level 6")
> '<H6>This is level 6</H6>'
>  >>>

Or alternatively (and also pythonically):

>>> def H(level, text):
... 	return "<H%(level)d>%(text)s</H%(level)d>" % vars()
... 
>>> print H(1, "This is level 1")
<H1>This is level 1</H1>
>>> print H(3, "This is level 3")
<H3>This is level 3</H3>

But now here's a challenge: is it possible, in the hypothetical context of
these examples, to write the function so that you could enter:

>>> print H(3, "This is level ?_? ")
                               ^ # not sure what would go here
and receive:

<H3>This is level 3</H3>

Wait! Give me a few minutes....

>>> def HH(level,text):
... 	temp = "<H%(level)d>%(text)s</H%(level)d>" % vars()
... 	temp = eval('"'+temp+'" % vars()')
... 	return temp
... 
>>> print HH(3, "This is level %(level)s")
<H3>This is level 3</H3>
>>> print HH(6, "This is level 6")
<H6>This is level 6</H6>
>>> 

Whoa. That's dangerous.

...head aches now; must find analgesics....


Scott