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=== Benefits of using a function instead of a statement ===
 * Extended call syntax provides better interaction with sequences
 * Keyword argument `sep` allows separator to be changed easily and obviously
 * Keyword argument `end` allows line terminator to be changed easily and obviously
 * Keyword argument `stream` allows easy and obvious redirection
 * Builtin can be replaced for easy customisation (e.g. per-thread logging)
 * Interacts well with new PEP 309 partial function application

=== Sample implementation ===
This is a Python 2.4 compatible sample implementation, which is why it uses the name `output` rather than `print`.

This page discusses the benefits of replacing the current print statement with an equivalent builtin. The output function presented below does everything the print statement does without requiring an hacking of the grammar, and also makes a number of things significantly easier.

Benefits of using a function instead of a statement

  • Extended call syntax provides better interaction with sequences
  • Keyword argument sep allows separator to be changed easily and obviously

  • Keyword argument end allows line terminator to be changed easily and obviously

  • Keyword argument stream allows easy and obvious redirection

  • Builtin can be replaced for easy customisation (e.g. per-thread logging)
  • Interacts well with new PEP 309 partial function application

Sample implementation

This is a Python 2.4 compatible sample implementation, which is why it uses the name output rather than print.

   1 def output(*args, **kwds):
   2     """Functional replacement for the print statement
   3 
   4     >>> output(1, 2, 3)
   5     1 2 3
   6     >>> output(1, 2, 3, sep='')
   7     123
   8     >>> output(1, 2, 3, sep=', ')
   9     1, 2, 3
  10     >>> output(1, 2, 3, end='Alternate line ending')
  11     1 2 3Alternate line ending
  12     >>> import sys
  13     >>> output(1, 2, 3, stream=sys.stderr)
  14     1 2 3
  15     >>> output(*range(10))
  16     0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
  17     >>> output(*(x*x for x in range(10)))
  18     0 1 4 9 16 25 36 49 64 81
  19     """
  20     # Parse the keyword-only optional arguments
  21     defaults = {
  22         "sep": " ",
  23         "end": "\n",
  24         "stream": sys.stdout,
  25     }
  26     for name, default in defaults.items():
  27         item = None
  28         try:
  29             item = kwds[name]
  30         except KeyError:
  31             pass
  32         if item is None:
  33             kwds[name] = default
  34     sep, end, stream = kwds["sep"], kwds["end"], kwds["stream"]
  35     # Perform the print operation without building the whole string
  36     for arg in args[:1]:
  37         stream.write(str(arg))
  38     for arg in args[1:]:
  39         stream.write(sep)
  40         stream.write(str(arg))
  41     stream.write(end)

PrintAsFunction (last edited 2011-08-14 09:25:04 by eth595)

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