Python, Lambda, and Guido van Rossum

Xah Lee, 2006-05-05

In this post, i'd like to deconstruct one of Guido's recent blog
about lambda in Python.

In Guido's blog written in 2006-02-10 at http://www.artima.com/
weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=147358

is first of all, the title “Language Design Is Not Just Solving
Puzzles”. In the outset, and in between the lines, we are told
that “I'm the supreme intellect, and I created Python”.

This seems impressive, except that the tech geekers due to their
ignorance of sociology as well as lack of analytic abilities of the
mathematician, do not know that creating a language is a act that
requires little qualifications. However, creating a language that is
used by a lot people takes considerable skill, and a big part of that
skill is salesmanship. Guido seems to have done it well and seems to
continue selling it well, where, he can put up a title of
belittlement and get away with it too.

Gaudy title aside, let's look at the content of his say. If you
peruse the 700 words, you'll find that it amounts to that Guido does
not like the suggested lambda fix due to its multi-line nature, and
says that he don't think there could possibly be any proposal he'll
like. The reason? Not much! Zen is bantered about, mathematician's
impractical ways is waved, undefinable qualities are given, human's
right brain is mentioned for support (neuroscience!), Rube Goldberg
contrivance phraseology is thrown, and coolness of Google Inc is
reminded for the tech geekers (in juxtaposition of a big notice that
Guido works there.).

If you are serious, doesn't this writing sounds bigger than its
content? Look at the gorgeous ending: “This is also the reason why
Python will never have continuations, and even why I'm uninterested
in optimizing tail recursion. But that's for another installment.”.
This benevolent geeker is gonna give us another INSTALLMENT!

There is a computer language leader by the name of Larry Wall, who
said that “The three chief virtues of a programmer are: Laziness,
Impatience and Hubris” among quite a lot of other ingenious
outpourings. It seems to me, the more i learn about Python and its
leader, the more similarities i see.

So Guido, i understand that selling oneself is a inherent and
necessary part of being a human animal. But i think the lesser beings
should be educated enough to know that fact. So that when minions
follow a leader, they have a clear understanding of why and what.

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Regarding the lambda in Python situation... conceivably you are right
that Python lambda is perhaps at best left as it is crippled, or even
eliminated. However, this is what i want: I want Python literatures,
and also in Wikipedia, to cease and desist stating that Python
supports functional programing. (this is not necessarily a bad
publicity) And, I want the Perl literatures to cease and desist
saying they support OOP. But that's for another installment.

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Xah
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∑ http://xahlee.org/

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