[Python-bugs-list] [ python-Feature Requests-739029 ] Constructor for counting things

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Feature Requests item #739029, was opened at 2003-05-16 19:22
Message generated for change (Comment added) made by bcannon
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Category: None
Group: None
Status: Open
Resolution: None
Priority: 5
Submitted By: David Albert Torpey (dtorp)
Assigned to: Nobody/Anonymous (nobody)
Summary: Constructor for counting things

Initial Comment:
Counting things is very common.  May I suggest an 
alternate dictionary constructor that works like this:

class BetterDictionary(dict):
    def bag(classobject, sequence):
        "Fast way to count things"
        b = classobject()
        for k in sequence:
            b[k] = b.get(k,0) + 1
        return b
    bag = classmethod(bag)

print BetterDictionary.bag("jack and jill went up a 
hill ...")

A C implementation could do this very fast.

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>Comment By: Brett Cannon (bcannon)
Date: 2003-08-11 23:12

Message:
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user_id=357491

I don't know if it is *that* common.  Besides, as your code shows, 
it isn't that complex.  It strikes me as a little too specific to be 
made a built-in dict constructor.

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