[Python-ideas] Javascript Destructuring Assignment

[Ron Adam]

Jim Jewett wrote:
> On 3/7/07, Ron Adam <rrr at ronadam.com> wrote:
>> The example from above could then be...
>>
>>     >>> data = [[1, 2, 3, 4], [5, 6, 7, 8], 9, 10]
>>     >>> a, b, c, d, e, f, g = "[[,,*],[,,*],*]" %% data
>>
>>     >>> print a, b, c, d, e, f, g
>>     1 2 [3, 4] 5 6 [7, 8] [9, 10]
> 
> ...
> 
>>     >>> data = [[1, 2, 3, 4], [5, 6, 7, 8], 9, 10]
>>     >>> a, b, c, d = ",,,*" %% "[,[],,]" %% data
>>     >>> print a, b, c, d
>>     [1, 2, 3, 4] 5 6 [7, 8, 9, 10]
> 
> ...
> 
>> This type of abstraction may make it easier to interface different 
>> types of
>> objects and data structures dynamically.
> 
> I can see how this might be made efficient.
> 
> I'm not seeing how I could ever maintain code that used it.

Yes, that would be a problem.

(And I need to resist posting things like this because then I feel 
obligated to try to explain them.  ie... wait 24 hours and if it still 
seems like a good idea, then post it.)


Regarding maintaining code:

For interfacing purposes you would probably define the re-packers with the 
data and not where you actually use them.  And use in-line comments as well.

Trying a different format.   (This can't be a serious proposal unless it 
can be made simple to understand.)

      '[]'  for unpack items, these can be nested.
      '.'   a single unchanged item
      '.n'  for next n unchanged items
      '*n'  for packing next n items
      '*'   pack the rest of the items, use at the end only.
      ''    Null, don't change anything

* Doing it in two steps is the easy way, unpack+repack.
* Both unpacking/repacking can be done in one step
   if the items are aligned.
* partial unpacking/repacking is perfectly ok.
   (if it does what you want)


data_source_v1 = [[1, 2, 3, 4], [5, 6, 7, 8], 9, 10]
unpack_v1 = "[[][]..]"
repack_to_v2 = "..*2..*2*"   # 1,2,[3,4],5,6,[7,8],[9,10]

data_source_v2 = [1, 2, [3, 4], 5, 6, [7, 8], [9, 10]]
unpack_v2 = "[..[]..[][]]"
repack_to_v1 = "*4*4.."      # [1,2,3,4][5,6,7,8],9,10


def interface_v1(data, unpack='', repack=''):
     a, b, c, d = repack %% unpack %% data
     # Do something with a thru d.

def interface_v2(data, unpack='', repack=''):
     a, b, c, d, e ,f, g = repack %% unpack %% data
     # do something with a thru g


# use data sources with interface v1

interface_v1(data_source_v1)       # use v1 data as is

interface_v1(data_source_v2, unpack_v2, repack_to_v1)


# use data sources with interface V2

interface_v2(data_source_v2)       # use v2 data as is

interface_v2(data_source_v1, upack_v1, repack_to_v2)


Decorators probably currently fit this use better I think.

Cheers,
   Ron