Why Do Python Lists Multiply Oddly? Exploring the CPython Source Code

Re:Why Do Python Lists Multiply Oddly? Exploring the CPython... by kerkeslager on Tuesday April 09, 2024 @11:14AM (#39980338)

This feels like a legitimate critique to me. I'm developing a programming language myself and I'm not going to include a syntax like this--multiplying an array by a number feels like a type error to me.

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Re:Why Do Python Lists Multiply Oddly? Exploring the CPython... by aeonik on Tuesday April 09, 2024 @11:52AM (#39980746)

I wouldn't recommend just throwing the idea away, it just needs to be approached with care. You can do it in a type safe way.

Research Rank Polymorphism and Array Languages:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Array_programming

https://arxiv.org/abs/1907.00509

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Re:Why Do Python Lists Multiply Oddly? Exploring the CPython... by kerkeslager on Wednesday April 10, 2024 @12:25AM (#39986949)

I mean, is there anything there that couldn't just be a library function? Not everything has to be an operator.

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Re:Why Do Python Lists Multiply Oddly? Exploring the CPython... by aeonik on Friday April 12, 2024 @06:22PM (#40018274)

Philosophically, I don't know what "must" or "has" to be an operator.

I certainly don't want to tell you how to design your language.

I'm just trying to say, don't rule the pattern out because it's perceived as a type error; you may have other reasons that are good, but my citations provide a basis of how to make the typing work (if you were inclined).

If you have other reasons, even if it's just aesthetic, that's fine.

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Re:Why Do Python Lists Multiply Oddly? Exploring the CPython... by hughesjj on Tuesday April 09, 2024 @12:29PM (#39981113)

Totally agreed @ just not implementing this part.

I think the motivation was being able to do scalar multiplication with a vector, but it gets ugly when operating on anything but numbers imo

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