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classification
Title: Allow any mapping after ** in calls
Type: Stage:
Components: Interpreter Core Versions: Python 2.6
process
Status: closed Resolution: accepted
Dependencies: Superseder:
Assigned To: Nosy List: belopolsky, georg.brandl, zseil
Priority: normal Keywords: patch

Created on 2007-03-23 03:27 by belopolsky, last changed 2022-04-11 14:56 by admin. This issue is now closed.

Files
File name Uploaded Description Edit
star-star-mapping.patch belopolsky, 2007-04-18 19:53 svn diff against revision 54869
star-star-mapping-msg.patch belopolsky, 2007-04-24 13:19 diff against revision 54926
Messages (11)
msg52300 - (view) Author: Alexander Belopolsky (belopolsky) * (Python committer) Date: 2007-03-23 03:27
Python allows arbitrary sequences after * in calls, but an expression following ** must be a (subclass of) dict.  The attached patch makes Python accept arbitrary mappings after **. 
msg52301 - (view) Author: Georg Brandl (georg.brandl) * (Python committer) Date: 2007-03-23 18:45
Two flaws:
- what if kwdict is NULL? Shouldn't happen, but the old version raises an error in this case.
- if PyDict_Update fails, tmpdict is leaked.

Please ask on python-dev whether to include this feature.
msg52302 - (view) Author: Alexander Belopolsky (belopolsky) * (Python committer) Date: 2007-03-23 19:44
I've fixed the flaws in star-star-mapping-1.patch .  I will ask on python-dev about the feature.  If the proposal is accepted, I will probably refactor the code to avoid using the second goto label.
File Added: star-star-mapping-1.patch
msg52303 - (view) Author: Alexander Belopolsky (belopolsky) * (Python committer) Date: 2007-04-18 16:02
I have asked on python-dev almost a month ago, but did not get any response:

http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2007-March/072321.html

I have recently posted another message that got no response as well:

http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2007-April/072653.html

Is it possible that my messages are not being delivered to the list?
msg52304 - (view) Author: Alexander Belopolsky (belopolsky) * (Python committer) Date: 2007-04-18 18:34
Georg,

Thanks for reposting my proposal. Since BDFL is +1 on the idea, I feel motivated to polish the patch.  In your early comment you noted that kwdict == NULL check may be superficial.  I agree.  It does not look like it is possible that ext_do_call is called with CALL_FLAG_KW set and a null pointer at the top of the stack.  It looks like this may only happen if the stack is corrupted by a misbehaving c extension.  In this case, however, throwing a type error is too gentle. PyErr_BadInternalCall() seems to be more appropriate if anything at all.

I propose to eliminate the null check for kwdict alltogether. This would be consistent with the way stararg is handled later in this function.  I am going to run the testsuit without the null check and will post a revised patch shortly.


msg52305 - (view) Author: Alexander Belopolsky (belopolsky) * (Python committer) Date: 2007-04-18 19:38
The proposed patch handles ** arguments similar to the way * arguments are treated.  If the expression following ** evaluates to an object that is not a dictionary, the new code attempts to update a new dictionary with that object. This procedure is closely similar to what PySequence_Tuple does with * arguments. (Python API does not provide PyMapping_Dict.) If new dictionary is succesfully created and updated, it replaces the original ** argument. If that attempt fails because kwdict is not a mapping (does not have a 'keys' attribute, a type error is raised explaining that a mapping is expected.  All other errors, e.g. MemoryError are percolated up.

(I am am removing the previous versions of the patch.)
File Added: star-star-mapping.patch
msg52306 - (view) Author: Alexander Belopolsky (belopolsky) * (Python committer) Date: 2007-04-18 19:53
File Added: star-star-mapping.patch
msg52307 - (view) Author: Ziga Seilnacht (zseil) * (Python committer) Date: 2007-04-24 10:32
The patch looks good to me.  The only thing that could
be improved is the error message.  It would be nice if
it contained the information about kwdict's type.
msg52308 - (view) Author: Alexander Belopolsky (belopolsky) * (Python committer) Date: 2007-04-24 13:19
zseil: It would be nice if it contained the information about kwdict's type.

I agree, the new patch adds type information to both * and ** error messages.
File Added: star-star-mapping-msg.patch
msg52309 - (view) Author: Alexander Belopolsky (belopolsky) * (Python committer) Date: 2007-05-20 15:30
What else needs to be done for the patch to go in?  Guido OKed the feature and zseil gave a favorable code review.  Is there any reason not to apply it?
msg52310 - (view) Author: Georg Brandl (georg.brandl) * (Python committer) Date: 2007-05-21 20:34
I think it just needs someone to commit it. ;) See revision 55495.
History
Date User Action Args
2022-04-11 14:56:23adminsetgithub: 44767
2007-03-23 03:27:50belopolskycreate