Question

Is there a better way of doing this in python 3:

point, edges = edges_per_point.popitem()
edge = edges[0]
if len(edges) > 1:
   edges_per_point[point] = edges[1:] 

I wish to begin with any edge in the dict while also removing it from the dictionary. I also which the list to be removed when it becomes empty.

Answer 1

If I understood your question right and shamelessly coping one of the deleting-during-iteration way of Lennart Regebro.

I’ll do it like this:

edge_list = []
delete_these = []
for point, edges in edges_per_point.items():
    edge_list.append(edges.pop(0))
    if edges:
        edges_per_point[point] = edges
    else:
        delete_these.append(point)

for point in delete_these:
    del edges_per_point[point]