[More Language Features] Adding * Operators

[HumphreyYang]

This PR resolves #257 by adding a section on the use of *.

[github-actions]

🚀 Deployed on https://63907f2e2d385e0058635fa5--epic-agnesi-957267.netlify.app

[HumphreyYang]

Hi @mmcky,

Could you have a quick review on this PR to see where I should further improve?

Many thanks in advance!

[mmcky]

@HumphreyYang I have updated the build infrastructure from the main branch. I would like to use this change as a final test case. Let me know if you spot any issues. Thanks.

[github-actions]

🚀 Deployed on https://63bd66a2c5c7042917471c52--epic-agnesi-957267.netlify.app

[HumphreyYang]

@HumphreyYang I have updated the build infrastructure from the main branch. I would like to use this change as a final test case. Let me know if you spot any issues. Thanks.

Many thanks @mmcky, the build runs much faster! I did not see any notable issues in the build.

[mmcky]

@HumphreyYang thanks for putting this together.

I am not sure that we should talk much about arbitrary functions *args and **kwargs as I don't think this is a great fit for the intended audience of this lecture. What do you think?

[HumphreyYang]

Hi @mmcky,

Thanks for your spot-on feedback last time. I have pushed a simplified version of the PR. I made some choices during the process:

• I have used a conceptually easier example instead of the one based on GBM I wrote before.

• I also left out an exercise that asks readers to replicate the generate_plots function in the example using args and **kargs. The solution will be something like this:

def generate_plots(*β_ls, idx=0, **kargs):
    label_list = []
    for βs in zip(β_ls[0::2], β_ls[1::2]):
        ax[idx].plot(*generate_data(*βs), **kargs['line_kargs'])
        label_list.append(f'$β0 = {βs[0]}$ / $β1 = {βs[1]}$')
    ax[idx].legend(label_list, **kargs['legend_kargs'])

β_ls = [10, 1,
        20, 2,
        30, 3]

generate_plots(*β_ls, line_kargs=line_kargs, legend_kargs=legend_kargs, idx=0)

β_ls.extend([40, 1])

generate_plots(*β_ls, line_kargs=line_kargs, legend_kargs=legend_kargs, idx=1)

plt.show()

I think this exercise is a good one to help readers to distinguish * ** in the context of function definitions and function calls, but I left out this part because it uses assumed knowledge from many previous lectures and may misdirect readers.

I was curious about what is your opinions on the current version and the compromises I have made.

Many thanks in advance. Have a lovely Christmas and New Year! 🎄

[mmcky]

thanks @HumphreyYang I have taken another look at the simplified version. I am still wondering if this is too much -- it is a good example though. I might be really biased as I tend not to use these operators much at all.

@jstac do you have good example? I imagine the most common quantecon use case is when passing parameters to models?

[jstac]

Do we need line 356? This is usually at the top of each lecture.

[jstac]

Hi all,

I think this is maybe a fraction long, given that we work hard to keep discussion very short, but nicely written and a good example. I recommend merging conditional on addressing the minor comment above.

Nice work @HumphreyYang .

[HumphreyYang]

Hi @mmcky,

Thanks for your reviews. I have addressed the issue @jstac raised. Could you please merge this PR if it looks to you?

Many thanks.

[mmcky]

thanks @HumphreyYang and @jstac will merge this in now.