[Python-ideas] PEP 8: raw strings & regular expressions

[Ned Batchelder]

On 10/22/15 6:56 PM, Yury Selivanov wrote:
> In principle, there is no reason why *both* of these groups
> of users can't use one tool and be happy.  I propose to
> establish a convention in PEP 8, explaining that, while both
> literals are semantically equivalent,
>
> - r'..' strings *should* be used for regexps,
>
> - R'..' strings *should* be used for unstyled raw strings,
>
> and tools *should* treat them as such.
>
> All of this is merely about codifying the current status quo. 
But you are not codifying the status quo.  The distinction you are 
proposing is one that you have invented.  I have never used R"" strings.

I think the best solution to the problem is to improve the highlighters, 
and luckily you have written one!  To me, it is clear which of these 
strings is the regex:

     r"\d+"
     r"\dir"

If the highlighters tried some heuristics, they could do a better job 
"being helpful" by making better guesses about the meaning of programs.  
I don't mind when highlighters make wrong guesses, as long as they don't 
ruin the entire rest of the file.  But better guesses will be better. :)

--Ned.
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