python-peps/pep-0270.txt

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PEP: 270
Title: uniq method for list objects
Version: $Revision$
Last-Modified: $Date$
Author: jp@demonseed.net (Jason Petrone)
Status: Rejected
Type: Standards Track
Created: 21-Aug-2001
Python-Version: 2.2
Post-History:
Notice
This PEP is withdrawn by the author. He writes:
Removing duplicate elements from a list is a common task, but
there are only two reasons I can see for making it a built-in.
The first is if it could be done much faster, which isn't the
case. The second is if it makes it significantly easier to
write code. The introduction of sets.py eliminates this
situation since creating a sequence without duplicates is just
a matter of choosing a different data structure: a set instead
of a list.
As described in PEP 218, sets are being added to the standard
library for Python 2.3.
Abstract
This PEP proposes adding a method for removing duplicate elements to
the list object.
Rationale
Removing duplicates from a list is a common task. I think it is
useful and general enough to belong as a method in list objects.
It also has potential for faster execution when implemented in C,
especially if optimization using hashing or sorted cannot be used.
On comp.lang.python there are many, many, posts[1] asking about
the best way to do this task. Its a little tricky to implement
optimally and it would be nice to save people the trouble of
figuring it out themselves.
Considerations
Tim Peters suggests trying to use a hash table, then trying to
sort, and finally falling back on brute force[2]. Should uniq
maintain list order at the expense of speed?
Is it spelled 'uniq' or 'unique'?
Reference Implementation
I've written the brute force version. Its about 20 lines of code
in listobject.c. Adding support for hash table and sorted
duplicate removal would only take another hour or so.
References
[1] http://groups.google.com/groups?as_q=duplicates&as_ugroup=comp.lang.python
[2] Tim Peters unique() entry in the Python cookbook:
http://aspn.activestate.com/ASPN/Cookbook/Python/Recipe/52560/index_txt
Copyright
This document has been placed in the public domain.
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