> -------------------------
> sum() semantics discussed
> -------------------------
> Guido's blog entry on `the fate of reduce() in Python 3000`_ (which
> reiterated Guido's plan to cut map(), reduce(), filter() and lambdas
> (what about zip()?) caused a huge discussion on whether sum() worked the
> best way possible. As it stands now, sum() only accepts a sequence of
> numbers and its optional second argument works as an initial value to
> build off of.
That last sentence isn't quite true. With an appropriate second argument, sum
can be used to sum any sequence (even one containing strings):
Py> class additive_identity(object):
... def __add__(self, other):
... return other
...
Py> sum(["a"] * 5, additive_identity())
'aaaaa'
This is fairly abusive of sum, though :)
Cheers,
Nick.
--
Nick Coghlan | ncoghlan at email.com | Brisbane, Australia
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