[Tutor] using a function as a dictionary value?

[Liam Clarke]

Hey Justin,

Tricky one this..

as far as I know, and I'm a beginner myself, a dictionary stores a
reference to the function, not the actual function.

So - 

> command = {'1': spam(),
>             '2': breakfast(),
>             '3': bridgekeeper()
>             }

Try this instead - 

command = {'1': spam, '2':breakfast, '3': bridgekeeper}



and

> select = raw_input('Chose an option [1|2|3]: ')
> 
> options = ['1', '2', '3']

> 
> if select in options:
>     command[select]

change this to - 

select = raw_input('Chose an option [1|2|3]: ')

if select in command.keys():
     command[select]()



That one had me going round in circles when I first met it.
AFAIK, everything is stored in dictionaries apparently. If you have a
function called 'dude()' you could probably call it as a dictionary of
'dude' from the namespace...

Standard disclaimer - 

Someone more knowledgable would probably be along shortly to point out
a simpler, elegant way to do it, but my way works. Mostly.

HTH

Liam Clarke




> #####
> def spam():
>     print 'Hello world'
> 
> def breakfast():
>     print 'Spam, Spam, Chips, and Spam'
> 
> def bridgekeeper():
>     print 'Ask me your questions, Bridgekeeper. I am not afraid.'
> 
> select = raw_input('Chose an option [1|2|3]: ')
> 
> options = ['1', '2', '3']

> 
> if select in options:
>     command[select]
> 
> else:
>     print 'Selection not recognized.'
> #####
>


'There is only one basic human right, and that is to do as you damn well please.
And with it comes the only basic human duty, to take the consequences.