this post was submitted on 30 Jan 2025
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Have to add that we work exclusively in strongly-typed languages. Kinda want to see how it plays out, but I can't help but argue with him, so I think I'll just go.

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 days ago (5 children)

I recently tried out Python. I had no idea it still doesn't have runtime enforced typing...

I didn't realize that PHP was decades ahead of it.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Python is dynamically strong typed, meaning you don't need to specify any types, but unlike JavaScript you can't just use a string where an int was expected. In that sense it's absolutely runtime enforced typing.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 days ago (2 children)

... and yet... it lacks clear and enforced type restrictions which help with clear code contracts. It's certainly better than Javascript but the lack of runtime enforced type checking can force defensive programming in an unnecessary manner.

Your statement isn't strict type checking. It's a restricted form of type coercion. Given how common this feature is in other languages it's weird that pythonistas feel so defensive when discussing the feature. I enjoy strict type checking, but that's my opinion - it makes it a poor choice for the sorts of projects I work on but if it's good for you then enjoy!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

it lacks clear and enforced type restrictions which help with clear code contracts

Not anymore! Gradual typing is supported by the core language and pyright is a fantastic incremental type checker that you can use both in your editor and in CI.

[–] wraithcoop 3 points 2 days ago

You said it's not runtime type checking but then switched to "strict type checking" - those aren't the same. Other person has it right, it has runtime type checking. The type checking happens when running your code. I don't think that's particularly useful, it's pretty much sugar on top of what would throw an error anyway.

[–] Pyro 24 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

Python 3.x will never have static typing because that would break backwards compatibility.

However, typing hints have been Integrated into Python for a while, and you are heavily recommended to use them, so your IDE can enforce typing.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

Also have the option of selectively/strictly enforcing in CI, to get an experience & protections similar to "compile-time type checking"

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Considering there is typing in the code why is there no switch to enable type checking at runtime? PHP does this with a per file declare(strict_types) - why would python be unable to have either a global or per file flag to enable checks?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

why is there no switch to enable type checking at runtime?

Have you got problems this would solve? I've done a lot of type annotated Python at scale and I can't think of an example.

Edit: given nobody in their right mind allows code that's not checker clean.

[–] Pyro 10 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Typing when you need it gives you more freedom over a toggle. You can choose to type some parts of the code while leaving other parts untyped.

For example, if I'm writing a quick and simple Python script I may forgo typing, but when iterating on it I'd go back and add the types I need.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

This isn't an issue, though. PHP has the same partial typing flexibility. There are ways to solve that issue and even typed PHP still allows union types including mixed which allows any types.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago

i mean yeah it's a scripting language, what did you expect?

do you want bash to add typing as well?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

apparently it's a feature

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

apparently it's a feature