[Python-3000] PEP 3102

[Jim Jewett]

On 2/18/08, Adam Olsen <rhamph at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Feb 18, 2008 1:17 PM, Arnaud Delobelle <arnodel at googlemail.com> wrote:
> > A typical use of positional-only arguments is with a function

> > def f(x, y=1, **kwargs):
> >         ...
> >
> > where keyword arguments are potentially anything at all, including x
> > and y.  For example: dict.update().

> I worry that dict is not just an example, it may be the *only*
> example.  Does somebody have a use case that doesn't involve dict?

Some existing functions are positional only, often because they expose
underlying (positional-only) C library functions.  Attemping to make a
duck-type replacement just doesn't feel as clean if the arguments are
named.

That said, I don't think it does any actual damage except for the "and
it takes arbitrary keywords" case.  Even then, a reserved set (such as
__* names) is usually acceptable.

-jJ