Unicode identifiers in Python?

(I think it’s pretty cool too, that might mean we’re geeks. ).

(I think it’s pretty cool too, that might mean we’re geeks. ) You’re fine to do this with the code you have above in Python 3. (It works in my Python 3.1 interpreter at least.) See: docs.python.org/py3k/reference/lexical_a... python.org/dev/peps/pep-3131/ But in Python 2, identifiers can only be letters, numbers and underscores.

docs.python.org/reference/lexical_analys....

Python 2. X does not support unicode identifiers, and consequently does not support? As an identifier.

Python 3. X does support unicode identifiers, although many people will get cross if they have to edit source files with, for example, identifiers A and? (latin A and greek capital alpha.) Sigma is often readable enough, but still, not as readable as the word sigma, so why bother?

I think readability of words versus symbols depends on context. When I’m reading something mathy, I find symbols (e.g. X + y) more readable than the wordy equivalents you’d get in, say, AppleScript (e.g. Add x to y). Symbols are terser, and generally let you get by on shape recognition alone, which I think is easier on the brain than reading.

I don’t do enough mathy stuff to have felt the need to add a sigma sign to my code though. – Paul D. Waite Apr 15 '10 at 23:05 Sure, there are plenty of cases where symbols are more readable than words.

Or where non-ASCII characters express things better. I was mostly commenting on the fact that an identifier consisting of a single sigma isn't really an improvement over the word 'sigma' :) – Thomas Wouters Apr 15 '10 at 23:10 Just added an edit for this. Try composing something like, return (lambda x: N/(sigma * (2*numpy.

Pi)**.5) * numpy. E ** (-(x-mu)**2/(2 * sigma**2))) hehe. – viksit Apr 15 '10 at 23:21 1 That doesn't look any more readable with unicode identifiers to me.

– Thomas Wouters Apr 15 '10 at 23:28 “That doesn't look any more readable with unicode identifiers to me.” — It does look more similar to the equation posted at the top of the question though. If someone was used to reading equations like that, mightn’t they find the symbol-y Python code more readable too? – Paul D.

Waite Apr 15 '107 at 9:31.

Math. Sqrt File "", line 1? = 3 ^ SyntaxError: invalid character in identifier Besides: I think it is very cool to be able to use unicode as identifiers - and I wish, I could use all.

I use the neo keyboard layout, which gives me greek and math symbols on extra layers:? &?

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.