[IronPython] No automatic conversion anymore from list to array

[Jacques de Hooge]

Hi,

I've been moving my apps from IP 1 Beta 7 to IP 1 RC1.
I have not tested them completely, but I ran into the fact that automatic
conversion from list to array was removed.

If I remember right, the reason is that a C#  function receiving an array
param may alter it.
If a tuple is passed rather than an array, the user would not expect the
tuple to be altered.

- Is there a fundamental reason why the function could not update the
contents of the list offered to it?
- If not, couldn't some kind of optional ('strict' option) warning be
generated rather than prohibiting automatic conversion?
- Are you sure most Python programmers know enough about Python "passing
references by value" to be aware that the function could not replace the
tuple by a new instance (I tought some Python courses and my students,
originally coming from C++, are always baffled by that, even after multiple
years of Python experience)?


One of the places where I use automatic conversion is:

listViewItemsBuffer = []
for ... :
	listViewItemsBuffer.append (listViewItem)
listViewItems.AddRange (listViewItemsBuffer)


The alternatives are:


1. listViewItems.AddRange (tuple (listViewItemsBuffer))

Will probably create a third, redundant, copy of the long list of pointers
involved each time its called


2. listViewItems.AddRange (System.Array [Forms.ListViewItem]
(listViewItemsBuffer))

Verbose (One of the things about Python programs is that they are much
shorter than their C# equivalents)


Well I guess you guys will have discussed this extensively.
Still I'd like to share the above thoughts with you.


Kind regards

J. de Hooge
info at geatec.com