#dynamic typing

[lesbianchemicalplant]

In Hillel Wayne’s post “I am disappointed by dynamic typing”, he expresses his sense that the Python ecosystem doesn’t really make the most of the possibilities that Python provides as a dynamically typed language. This is an important subject, since every Python program pays a very substantial set of costs for Python’s highly dynamic nature, such as poor run-time performance, and maintainability issues. Are we we getting anything out of this tradeoff?

I think Hillel makes some fair points, and this post is intended as a response rather than a rebuttal. Recently there has been a significant influence of static type systems which I think might be harmful. The static type system we have in the form of mypy/pyright (which is partly codified in PEP 484 and following) seems to be much too heavily inspired by what is possible to map to other languages, rather than the features that Python provides.

[...] I’m worried that a de-facto move away from dynamic stuff in the Python ecosystem, possibly motivated by those who use Python only because they have to, and just want to make it more like the C# or Java they are comfortable with, could leave us with the very worst of all worlds.

However, I also think they are plenty of counter-examples to Hillel’s claim, and that’s what this post will explore.

Hillel was specifically thinking about, in his own words:

• “runtime program manipulation”

• “programs that take programs and output other programs”

• “thinking of the whole runtime environment in the same way, where everything is a runtime construct”

…and he gave some examples that included things like:

• run-time type modification

• introspection/manipulation of the stack

• passing very differently typed objects through normal code to collect information about it.

I’m going to give lots of examples of this kind of thing in Python, and they will all be real world examples. This means that either I have used them myself to solve real problems, or I’m aware that other people are using them in significant numbers.

(1 Feb 2023)

[cryptocism]

It would have taken another immortal to keep up with him.

so i haven't read the books but i did read the Devil's Minion chapter and this part made me laugh out loud:

[chloesimaginationthings]

Vanny's type in FNAF is so obvious...

[inkoutsidethelines]

Thinking about how I would write an adult Scooby-Doo series, because I think it can be done.

The first thing I’d do is make the characters actually be adults.  Still young, but adults, in the mid to late 20s range.  Mystery Inc. is a private detective type business that they run together.  In this universe, the supernatural/ghosts/etc are real, but not necessarily common, so when they take on a case, the culprit might be a person disguised as a monster, or it might actually be a real ghost.  The stakes can be higher; sometimes a bad guy is legitimately trying to kill them.  Sometimes the mystery they’re trying to solve is a murder.  Sometimes they actually get hurt on their cases.

Fred: the core of Fred’s character should be that he’s incredibly kind.  Like, give a stranger the shirt off his back kind.  The “Fred can’t talk to potential clients because he might take a case for free and we need to eat” kind.  He’s an honest and good person and sometimes gets himself into trouble because he assumes other people are too.  While he’s not very good at reading people or noticing ulterior motives, he’s brilliant when it comes to mechanical or engineering type stuff, so he’s the one who keeps the mystery machine running, builds their gadgets, and of course, designs the traps.

Daphne: she comes from old money, and her parents absolutely despise her life choices, to the point where they haven’t officially disowned her, but they have basically cut her off, so she doesn’t actually have access to any family money.  Growing up wealthy has granted her a variety of skills, including speaking multiple languages, horseback riding, and fencing.  She’s very into fashion and jewelry (even if she can’t afford it anymore) and has extensive knowledge of both that can occasionally provide a vital clue in a case. And even though her parents have cut her off, Daphne still has a wide network of contacts she can ask for favors sometimes, because she’s personable, and people tend to like her.  Daphne is also very emotionally intelligent, and is usually the one who can spot when someone is lying to them.

Side note - I ship Fred and Daphne, so I think I would start them off as an established couple for this universe.  Dating, engaged, married, I don’t care.  They are stupidly in love, ride or die for each other.  There’s no will they, won’t they, no worries about cheating.  They are in a healthy, happy, loving relationship, and no one (not even Daphne’s disapproving parents) are going to mess that up for them.

Velma: she is the forensics nerd who sometimes gets super excited about the wrong thing at the wrong time (”He was mummified in seconds? That’s so cool!” “Velma!  His wife is standing right there!” “Oh.  Sorry.”).  She’s not purposely insensitive, she just gets laser focused on her work and forgets to filter herself sometimes.  She’s also the one who can get so fixated on solving whatever mystery they’re working on, she’s willing to bend or maybe break laws.  Is breaking and entering really so bad?  Not if it gets them answers.

Shaggy: he is still the comic relief, but he’s the comic relief by being the only person in the group that actually has common sense.  He manages the business’s finances, he’s the only one who knows how to cook, and the others tease him for being a coward sometimes, but Shaggy maintains that if a ghost with an axe is coming for you, running is the only sensible option.  He should also have a range of random knowledge that sounds useless, but sometimes saves the day (ex ventriloquism, origami, the history of spoons, etc).

Scooby: as this is a universe where supernatural creatures exist, Scooby is an ancient eldritch type being that took a shine to Shaggy when he was a kid, and took the form of a talking dog to befriend and hang out with him.  Aside from the talking dog bit and not aging, he never uses his powers in a way that anyone notices.  The audience is not told upfront that Scooby is an ancient eldritch being; it should slowly be hinted at throughout the series so the audience put it together, but the characters never realize it.  Scooby genuinely considers Shaggy to be his best friend, and cares about the rest of the gang too.

[aroaceleovaldez]

holds your face very gently. listen. listen to me: Grover and Percy are soulmates. Their lives are very literally tied together and they cannot exist without the other. Canonically, if one of them dies, they both die. They literally share a telepathic link that they can use to communicate from literally anywhere and they can feel each other's feelings. They are best friends and their lives are physically bound to one another. This is so important to me.

[bloominglegumes]

i love normal guys doomed by the narrative

[trendingnow3-blog]

Day-1: Demystifying Python Variables: A Comprehensive Guide for Data Management

Python Boot Camp Series 2023.

Python is a powerful and versatile programming language used for a wide range of applications. One of the fundamental concepts in Python, and in programming in general, is working with variables. In this article, we will explore what variables are, how to use them effectively to manage data, and some best practices for their usage. What are Variables in Python? Definition of Variables In…

[alibonbonn]

one of the most ship dynamics of all time

[time-woods]

someone asked for my interpretations of the characters prismo and scarab wouldve made at the end of fionna and cake,

so here we have Sīdus the Fallen star and The Carmine Cavalier (also regarded as Carma (like karma))

im proud of scarabs character name simply cause cavalier used as an adjective can mean someone who doesnt care for others. also really proud of his sickle thing- its like the mandibles of a beetle but it acts like a guiding weapon rather than attacking, so he can just hook people and completely displace their movements but it can also be used for punching like brass knuckles

[welcometogrouchland]

[ID in ALT] I've made posts before about Talia/Dick co-parenting Damian moments (will never happen but let me dream) and this came to me in a vision. Took me ages to finish for some reason 😭 and then even longer to post

[deecotan]

anyway here's wavewave

[john-silvers]

If we were able to take Nassau, if we are able to expose the illusion that England is not inevitable, if we are able to incite a revolt that spreads across the New World...then yeah, I imagine people are gonna notice.

[beeg-bark]

Being chased through the forest by two malicious doms, them just working as a unit, hunting you, saving their energy, that way they’re both still full of strength while you get weaker and weaker, more and more exhausted. What happens when they finally catch you, when you have no strength left to fight back or run? Slammed down into the forest floor, pinned against the foliage while they discuss how to ruin their freshly caught prey.

[chloesimaginationthings]

FNAF movie Mike isn’t wrong, but he’s not right either..

Based off @/Tanijrou post on twitter

[totallynotaterrorist]

I love Mickey Milkovich so much, his screentime is basically just him having hots for Ian, being confused about what the fuck is going on (and being pissed about it), and literally trying to kill someone, and I find that very reasonable

[aroaceleovaldez]

i am once again thinking about Percy and Annabeth and their respective relationships with their step-parents, particularly how the other views the other's dynamic with their step-parents.

Because there's a really interesting subtle thing that we see which is when Annabeth talks about her step-mom to Percy, Percy's assumption is that Annabeth's step-mom is like Gabe. He just presumes that because that's what's familiar with him and based on his own experiences he assumes their situations are similar.

But then when Percy actually meets Annabeth's step-mom (and her dad) he realizes their situations aren't at all the same. He was expecting another Gabe, but instead he just found a genuinely caring family that was just struggling to find their footing with one another.

The interesting thing is that this implies an inverse - especially with what we know about how Percy and Annabeth describe their experiences. Percy doesn't really talk about Gabe ever. To anyone. Grover knows the whole picture there but he's basically the only one of Percy's friends who does. As far as we know, unless Grover told her at some point, Annabeth doesn't know about Gabe. She knows he was a jerk, but Percy out loud doesn't ever really get into details about it. She knows they didn't get along and eventually Gabe disappeared and Percy basically never spoke of it again. Presumably, Annabeth thinks Percy's dynamic with Gabe was like her dynamic with her step-mom, like how Percy had thought their situations were the same. Especially given we know Percy assumed their situations were the same and likely spoke about it as such if it ever came up.

Like. That's such an interesting tiny aspect of their dynamic that never gets touched upon. Annabeth likely doesn't know about this very core traumatic experience Percy endured before they met because she's operating under the assumption that their family just was a little rocky like hers was.