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authorRaymond Hettinger <python@rcn.com>2003-02-09 06:40:58 (GMT)
committerRaymond Hettinger <python@rcn.com>2003-02-09 06:40:58 (GMT)
commit60eca9331a1c2594b1331678d715e6177386c3a4 (patch)
treefe68e9debd8adce5a689842d2d465d892a20b7ea /Doc/lib/libitertools.tex
parentcb3319f61e94af8794a51f51730dce4a9d512af3 (diff)
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C Code:
* Removed the ifilter flag wart by splitting it into two simpler functions. * Fixed comment tabbing in C code. * Factored module start-up code into a loop. Documentation: * Re-wrote introduction. * Addede examples for quantifiers. * Simplified python equivalent for islice(). * Documented split of ifilter(). Sets.py: * Replace old ifilter() usage with new.
Diffstat (limited to 'Doc/lib/libitertools.tex')
-rw-r--r--Doc/lib/libitertools.tex150
1 files changed, 84 insertions, 66 deletions
diff --git a/Doc/lib/libitertools.tex b/Doc/lib/libitertools.tex
index 8f6c655..5e0edf6 100644
--- a/Doc/lib/libitertools.tex
+++ b/Doc/lib/libitertools.tex
@@ -12,45 +12,43 @@ This module implements a number of iterator building blocks inspired
by constructs from the Haskell and SML programming languages. Each
has been recast in a form suitable for Python.
-With the advent of iterators and generators in Python 2.3, each of
-these tools can be expressed easily and succinctly in pure python.
-Rather duplicating what can already be done, this module emphasizes
-providing value in other ways:
-
-\begin{itemize}
-
- \item Instead of constructing an over-specialized toolset, this module
- provides basic building blocks that can be readily combined.
-
- For instance, SML provides a tabulation tool: \code{tabulate(\var{f})}
- which produces a sequence \code{f(0), f(1), ...}. This toolbox
- takes a different approach of providing \function{imap()} and
- \function{count()} which can be combined to form
- \code{imap(\var{f}, count())} and produce an equivalent result.
-
- \item Some tools were dropped because they offer no advantage over their
- pure python counterparts or because their behavior was too
- surprising.
-
- For instance, SML provides a tool: \code{cycle(\var{seq})} which
- loops over the sequence elements and then starts again when the
- sequence is exhausted. The surprising behavior is the need for
- significant auxiliary storage (unusual for iterators). Also, it
- is trivially implemented in python with almost no performance
- penalty.
-
- \item Another source of value comes from standardizing a core set of tools
- to avoid the readability and reliability problems that arise when many
- different individuals create their own slightly varying implementations
- each with their own quirks and naming conventions.
-
- \item Whether cast in pure python form or C code, tools that use iterators
- are more memory efficient (and faster) than their list based counterparts.
- Adopting the principles of just-in-time manufacturing, they create
- data when and where needed instead of consuming memory with the
- computer equivalent of ``inventory''.
-
-\end{itemize}
+The module standardizes a core set of fast, memory efficient tools
+that are useful by themselves or in combination. Standardization helps
+avoid the readability and reliability problems which arise when many
+different individuals create their own slightly varying implementations,
+each with their own quirks and naming conventions.
+
+The tools are designed to combine readily with each another. This makes
+it easy to construct more specialized tools succinctly and efficiently
+in pure Python.
+
+For instance, SML provides a tabulation tool: \code{tabulate(\var{f})}
+which produces a sequence \code{f(0), f(1), ...}. This toolbox
+provides \function{imap()} and \function{count()} which can be combined
+to form \code{imap(\var{f}, count())} and produce an equivalent result.
+
+Whether cast in pure python form or C code, tools that use iterators
+are more memory efficient (and faster) than their list based counterparts.
+Adopting the principles of just-in-time manufacturing, they create
+data when and where needed instead of consuming memory with the
+computer equivalent of ``inventory''.
+
+Some tools were omitted from the module because they offered no
+advantage over their pure python counterparts or because their behavior
+was too surprising.
+
+For instance, SML provides a tool: \code{cycle(\var{seq})} which
+loops over the sequence elements and then starts again when the
+sequence is exhausted. The surprising behavior is the need for
+significant auxiliary storage (which is unusual for an iterator).
+If needed, the tool is readily constructible using pure Python.
+
+Other tools are being considered for inclusion in future versions of the
+module. For instance, the function
+\function{chain(\var{it0}, \var{it1}, ...})} would return elements from
+the first iterator until it was exhausted and then move on to each
+successive iterator. The module author welcomes suggestions for other
+basic building blocks.
\begin{seealso}
\seetext{The Standard ML Basis Library,
@@ -107,24 +105,36 @@ by functions or loops that truncate the stream.
\end{verbatim}
\end{funcdesc}
-\begin{funcdesc}{ifilter}{predicate, iterable \optional{, invert}}
+\begin{funcdesc}{ifilter}{predicate, iterable}
Make an iterator that filters elements from iterable returning only
- those for which the predicate is \code{True}. If
- \var{invert} is \code{True}, then reverse the process and pass through
- only those elements for which the predicate is \code{False}.
- If \var{predicate} is \code{None}, return the items that are true
- (or false if \var{invert} has been set). Equivalent to:
+ those for which the predicate is \code{True}.
+ If \var{predicate} is \code{None}, return the items that are true.
+ Equivalent to:
\begin{verbatim}
- def ifilter(predicate, iterable, invert=False):
- iterable = iter(iterable)
- while True:
- x = iterable.next()
- if predicate is None:
- b = bool(x)
- else:
- b = bool(predicate(x))
- if not invert and b or invert and not b:
+ def ifilter(predicate, iterable):
+ if predicate is None:
+ def predicate(x):
+ return x
+ for x in iterable:
+ if predicate(x):
+ yield x
+ \end{verbatim}
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{ifilterfalse}{predicate, iterable}
+ Make an iterator that filters elements from iterable returning only
+ those for which the predicate is \code{False}.
+ If \var{predicate} is \code{None}, return the items that are false.
+ Equivalent to:
+
+ \begin{verbatim}
+ def ifilterfalse(predicate, iterable):
+ if predicate is None:
+ def predicate(x):
+ return x
+ for x in iterable:
+ if not predicate(x):
yield x
\end{verbatim}
\end{funcdesc}
@@ -169,21 +179,17 @@ by functions or loops that truncate the stream.
\begin{verbatim}
def islice(iterable, *args):
- iterable = iter(iterable)
s = slice(*args)
next = s.start or 0
stop = s.stop
step = s.step or 1
- cnt = 0
- while True:
- while cnt < next:
- dummy = iterable.next()
- cnt += 1
- if cnt >= stop:
- break
- yield iterable.next()
- cnt += 1
- next += step
+ for cnt, element in enumerate(iterable):
+ if cnt < next:
+ continue
+ if cnt >= stop:
+ break
+ yield element
+ next += step
\end{verbatim}
\end{funcdesc}
@@ -324,6 +330,18 @@ from building blocks.
>>> def nth(iterable, n):
... "Returns the nth item"
-... return islice(iterable, n, n+1).next()
+... return list(islice(iterable, n, n+1))
+
+>>> def all(pred, seq):
+... "Returns True if pred(x) is True for every element in the iterable"
+... return not nth(ifilterfalse(pred, seq), 0)
+
+>>> def some(pred, seq):
+... "Returns True if pred(x) is True at least one element in the iterable"
+... return bool(nth(ifilter(pred, seq), 0))
+
+>>> def no(pred, seq):
+... "Returns True if pred(x) is False for every element in the iterable"
+... return not nth(ifilter(pred, seq), 0)
\end{verbatim}