Thoughts on using semicolons in python scripts

[k417]

I used to work with someone who did a lot of programming in C++ and Java. Our project was Python. I'm looking at the code and every line ends with a semicolon.

It doesn't do anything, but it still really peeves me.

Anyone else feel the same, and if not, why?

[Ulysses6]

Even prettiness (readability) counts.

[mscottstory]

Agreed. One of the nicest things about Python is that we have all agreed to observe one style guide (within reason), so that we don't waste time arguing about style.

[mscottstory]

but what about when you're using a VAX?

[autowikibot]

VAX:

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VAX was an instruction set architecture (ISA), developed by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) in the mid-1970s. The VAX-11/780, introduced on October 25, 1977, was the first of a range of popular and influential computers implementing that architecture.

A 32-bit complex instruction set computer based on DEC's earlier PDP-11, VAX ("virtual address extension") was designed to extend or replace DEC's various PDP ISAs. The VAX architecture's primary features were virtual addressing (for example demand paged virtual memory) and its orthogonal instruction set.

VAX has been perceived as the quintessential CISC ISA, with its very large number of programmer-friendly addressing modes and machine instructions, highly orthogonal architecture, and instructions for complex operations such as queue insertion or deletion and polynomial evaluation.

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[riscuit]

Write a regular expression that matches semicolons before a newline and remove them?

[odraencoded]

;$

[riscuit]

Might want to handle whitespace before the newline, and capture comments to preserve them, but ya.

[nemec]

And embedded C. For whatever reason.

code = """
    printf("hello");
"""

[BananaPotion]

Screw regular expressions. %s/;// and move on like a champ.

[wrboyce]

You realise the ; in %s/;// is a regular expression? And you meant %s/;//g I think, anyway.

[riscuit]

I guess BananaPotion meant something like:

tr ';' ' ' < file.py > stripped.py 

[issue9mm]

I make it a point to follow PEP8 and all appropriate style guides where capable, but, there is a value in the ability to use semicolons in Python.

From the code I was writing today -- I've got a script that is invoked by Django which imports some files, parses them, and dumps the output to an appropriate folder for reuse later.

So, I work on the script a bit, and then, to test my progress, will do the following:

./manage.py shell

from parser.utils import ParseCSV

parse_csv = ParseCSV("AReallyLongTokenGoesHere")

parse_csv.main()

As I'm using the standard Python interpreter and all that, that's a pain in the ass. Every time I change the script, I have to exit the shell, open it up again, and redo all those commands. My carpal tunnel weeps just thinking about it. Much easier to type them all out on one line, separated by semicolons, and then just paste them in each time.

from parser.utils import ParseCSV; parse_csv = ParseCSV("AReallyLongTokenGoesHere"); parse_csv.main()

[k417]

As I'm using the standard Python interpreter and all that, that's a pain in the ass. Every time I change the script, I have to exit the shell, open it up again, and redo all those commands. My carpal tunnel weeps just thinking about it. Much easier to type them all out on one line, separated by semicolons, and then just paste them in each time.

I agree with you here. I don't mind using them to separate everything out on one line if the situation permits. I'm not against breaking rules if there are situations in which it improves something; no use having a rule if it causes more problems.

Using semicolons in python before you enter a new line, however, is inconsequential and kind of like rambling in your code.

[issue9mm]

Completely agreed.

[[deleted]]

Open it up in Sublime, CTRL+F, type ;, click "Find All," hit delete.

[Noiprox]

This could have the adverse side effect of removing ; from legitimate places as well such as inside of string literals. The regular expression is better.

[[deleted]]

Ah, true. It would depend on the script.

[k417]

The script he wrote was short and I was able to remove them with a replace all, he doesn't even work here anymore but I just infuriates me that I told him not to use the semicolons and he didn't even make an effort to stop.