Re: pep 336: Make None Callable

From: Terry Reedy (tjreedy_at_udel.edu)
Date: 11/04/04 

To: python-list@python.org
Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 23:23:15 -0500

"The Eternal Squire" <eternalsquire@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:dv6dndASE7CxNBTcRVn-pw@comcast.com...
> PEP: 336
> Abstract
>
> None should be a callable object that when called with any
> arguments has no side effect and returns None.

Please no. The None object, by definition, is an object with no value, no
behavior (except compares), and no specific attributes (other than those
common to all descendents of object). That one can currently compare None
to other objects can be considered a bug, and this might go away in the
future.

Anyone who wants a null function can write it in about 20 keypresses, and
include it in a utility module if one has one.

It would be more sensible to promote the addition to builtins of a
predefined null function -- one somewhat equivalent to 0, [], and {}.

Terry J. Reedy