Perl To Python Migration

PERL TO PYTHON TRAPS

There are quite a few traps for the unwary when migrating from Perl to Python in terms of the built-in function set. Primarily these relate to the way in which Python is object-oriented and therefore has class methods for certain operations that are covered by a Perl internal function – keys() and each(), for example. These traps apply as much to the built-in function set as to the methods on the base object types and other classes.

Other traps to look out for in all functions and methods, including the built-in ones dealt with in this chapter, are:

• Python has no “scratchpad” variable ($_ in Perl) – if a function is expecting an argument and you don't supply one the interpreter will raise an exception.

• Python functions return ...