[wingide-users] bug or feature

[Paul Sijben]

Brian and Martijn,

thanks very much for this quick response. I indeed had not counted on 
that underwater behaviour.

Paul

Martijn Pieters wrote:
> Paul Sijben wrote:
> 
>> I am running into a problem which I believe to be a bug in python.
>>
>> I am creating a set of objects, remove it and then create them anew.
>> The definition is:
>> class TicketsList(MListof):
>>     def __init__(self,val=[]):
>>         etc.
> 
> 
> Don't! See below.
> 
>> Now when I call it with
>>     tickets=TicketsList()
>>
>> I see the second time that I create this object it starts NOT EMPTY. 
>> The val gets the SAME object list (checkes by the object references).
> 
> 
> That's because you use a mutable default value. The val=[] declaration 
> creates that list with the method definition; NOT when you create 
> instances! That means that if you alter val within __init__, the changes 
> persist over the lifetime of your python program.
> 
>> However when I leave the code unchanged but for the creation with 
>> explicitly an empty list I am getting a nively empty list.
>>
>>     tickets=TicketsList([])
> 
> 
> Indeed, because you then create a new list for that instance.
> 
> If you need a list (or dictionary or other mutable) for a default value, 
> do not create that value as part of the default arguments for a method; 
> the definition is only evaluated once on import.
> 
> Instead, default these to None, and in the body of the method replace 
> these with the actual default:
> 
>     class TicketsList(MListof):
>         def __init__(self,val=None):
>             if val is None:
>                 val = []
> 
> Remember: method and function definitions are only evaluated once. Don't 
> put mutables in them, ever. We al run into this once or twice as we 
> learn python, and it's a feature, not a bug. :)
> 
> See:
> 
> The python FAQ:
> http://www.python.org/doc/faq/general.html#why-are-default-values-shared-between-objects 
> 
> 
> The python tutorial:
> http://docs.python.org/tut/node6.html#SECTION006710000000000000000
> 
> The python reference manual:
> http://docs.python.org/ref/function.html
> 
> Many other places:
> http://www.ferg.org/projects/python_gotchas.html#contents_item_6
> http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/python/2004/02/05/learn_python.html?page=2
> http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-list/2003-February/150530.html
> http://www.nexedi.org/sections/education/python/tips_and_tricks/python_and_mutable_n/view 
> 
> http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/vampire-public/2004-01/msg00001.html
> http://mail.python.org/pipermail/tutor/2005-February/035786.html
> etc.
> 
> Hope this helps,
> 
> Martijn Pieters