Alternative OR symbol

[gvanrossum]

At least two SC members don't like | and would prefer we spell this as or.

Arguments heard include:

• Don't buy the argument that many other languages use this ("Python isn't those other languages, and there are plenty of differences already")
• Since for readability you would normally add spaces, it's only one character shorter
• The argument about priority cuts either way
• That or is already frequently used cuts either way
• That | has many other uses cuts either way
• Whether | looks better visually is a matter of personal preference

To which my main response would be

• Let's not unnecessarily invent where we can easily copy
• | is used in the same way in other matching contexts, e.g. regular expressions, EBNF grammars, and "parser combinators" (e.g. https://pypi.org/project/parsita/: escaped = (quote | reverse_solidus | solidus | backspace | <etc.>)
• UPDATE: to me, or always separates conditions, which are not the same thing as patterns

But if I had to I could get used to or.

[Tobias-Kohn]

Again, agreed in every point. There is no really strong argument either way, and hence no actual reason not to go with |.

Perhaps a simple thought experiment: if Python had opted for || instead of or (like various C-based languages), would those in favour of or then also want to write case (1 || 2 || 3):? Does it really add something...?

[gvanrossum]

In the SC-VC we ended up deciding to keep the existing | symbol.

[gvanrossum]

Labeling as rejected (we're keeping |) and we've added discussion to PEP 635, so doesn't need more pep.