#341 – Guido van Rossum: Python and the Future of Programming
Lex Fridman Podcast
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Static Type Checking in Python
Static type checking in Python involves using type annotations to express variable types, function arguments, and return types. These annotations are not checked when the code is executed, but through a separate static type checker that reads the code and ensures the types make sense. However, many developers do not use type annotations due to potential lies in the annotations, which can cause runtime errors. Enforcing type annotations in Python could lead to many programs not working or even being impossible to create, as Python is known for its dynamism. As of now, Python does not utilize type annotations for speeding up the interpreter, and the decision to not enforce annotations allows for flexibility in the language.
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