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design of python: why is assert a statement and not a function?
In Python 3, print was made into a function. What are the benefits of having assert be a statement?
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well, it's not supposed to return anything, maybe that's why – piokuc Dec 11 '12 at 22:14
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`print` is not supposed to return anything either :) – Neil G Dec 11 '12 at 22:15
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@MikeCorcoran -- I was just about to point that out. :) – mgilson Dec 11 '12 at 22:17
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Oops, sorry both. Voted to close. – Neil G Dec 11 '12 at 22:17
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For optimization. If you run your Python script with the -O option no code will be generated for assert statements. This would not be possible if assert were a function.
See the documentation on assert, which references this behavior.
Andrew Clark
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+1. I wonder whether pypy be able to optimize away empty functions one day… – Neil G Dec 11 '12 at 22:16