Question

I’m not sure of what’s going on here, but I have some python code:

import sys

max_cols = 350
max_rows = 1
r1 = range(max_rows)
r2 = range(max_cols)

for y in r1:
    for x in r2:
        sys.stdout.write('something')
        if x is not max_cols-1:
            sys.stdout.write(',')

Now, this works fine for values of max_cols <= 257.
However, if you use >= 258, you end up with an extra ‘,’ at the end.
(The idea here is obviously to generate a CSV file.)

Now, 256 is a CS number, so there’s clearly something going on here that I’m unaware of, since everything works perfectly up until that point. This also happens when I try to write to a file using the same pattern.

Why does this happen?

Using Python 3.2.

Answer 1

is is not for checking equality but for checking identity. x is y is only true if both variables refer to the same object. As it happens, CPython resuses objects for small integers – but in general, the concept of identity is very different from the concept of equality. Use the correct operators, == and != for equality and inequality respectively, and it works.

Also note that the code can be made much simpler and robust by just using the csv module. No need to reinvent the wheel.