[Zope-Coders] Re: [Zope-Checkins] CVS: Zope/lib/python/ZODB - FileStorage.py:1.98.2.1

[Ken Manheimer]

On Thu, 7 Nov 2002, Guido van Rossum wrote:

> > This type of object is sufficiently complicated to deal with that I
> > think they need a *name*. A description like 'uncreated object' isnt
> > enough. Someone new to this concept will read the description,
> > understand the description, and think they understand the
> > concept. They would be wrong.
> 
> The same can be said for any name we use ("object", "POSKeyError",
> "service").  But picking George Bailey as a name would be unique in
> that its name is a cultural reference rather than a reference to the
> meaning.  if you don't know who George Bailey is, it's a lot easier to
> remember the explanation of "uncreated" once you've seen it.

I like clever names as much as anyone, but "george baileyed" is
*cute*, not mnemonic (at least, not for those unfamiliar with the
reference) or simple.  Such cuteness can make understanding the system
harder, even if you know the reference!

-- 
Ken
klm@zope.com