Python allows programmers to pass additional arguments to functions via comments. Now armed with this knowledge head out and spread it to all code bases.

Feel free to use the code I wrote in your projects.

Link to the source code: https://github.com/raldone01/python_lessons_py/blob/v2.0.0/lesson_0_comments.ipynb

Image transcription:

# First we have to import comment_arguments from arglib
# Sadly arglib is not yet a standard library.
from arglib import comment_arguments


def add(*args, **kwargs):
    c_args, c_kwargs = comment_arguments()
    return sum([int(i) for i in args + c_args])


# Go ahead and change the comments.
# See how they are used as arguments.

result = add()  # 1, 2
print(result)
# comment arguments can be combined with normal function arguments
result = add(1, 2)  # 3, 4
print(result)

Output:

3
10

This is version v2.0.0 of the post: https://github.com/raldone01/python_lessons_py/tree/v2.0.0

Note:

v1.0.0 of the post can be found here: https://github.com/raldone01/python_lessons_py/tree/v1.0.0

Choosing lib as the name for my module was a bit devious. I did it because I thought if I am creating something cursed why not go all the way?

Regarding misinformation:

I thought simply posting this in programmer humor was enough. Anyways, the techniques shown here are not yet regarded best practice. Decide carefully if you want to apply the shown concepts in your own code bases.

  • bdonvr@thelemmy.club
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    5 days ago

    IMO comments should never ever be parsed under any circumstances but I probably don’t know enough to really speak on this

    • jaxxed@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      Can we just clarify that you mean that comments should never be parsed by the language engine. There are valid annotation systems, but the goal is alway to ensure that one passable can never impact the other.

      Imagine if here a comment could create a syntax error! This is even worse for runtime scripting languages like python.

      • bastion@feddit.nl
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        3 days ago

        Sure, but let’s just clarify that this is someone going out of their way to create this problem, using Python’s ability to read it’s own code.

        Basically, you can load any text file, including a source code file, and do whatever you want with it.

        So, a function can be written that finds out whatever’s calling it, reads that file, parses the comments, and uses them as values. This can also be done with introspection, using the same mechanism that displays tracebacks.

      • raldone01@lemmy.worldOP
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        8 hours ago

        Well now that causes breakage two dependencies down the line. Good luck with that. 😅

        • raldone01@lemmy.worldOP
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          8 hours ago

          On a serious note:

          This feature is actually very useful. Libraries can use it create neat error messages. It is also needed when logging information to a file.

          You should however never ever parse the source code and react to it differently.