slice.py

#!/usr/bin/env python

# based on slice example from
# https://medium.com/@tucnak/why-go-is-a-poorly-designed-language-1cc04e5daf2#.pr6pifnky

from itertools import count

def log(item, log_counter=count(start=1)):
    print next(log_counter), item

if __name__ == '__main__':
    # Some numbers, please!
    numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

    log(numbers)      # 1. [1 2 3 4 5]
    log(numbers[2:])  # 2. [3 4 5]
    log(numbers[1:3]) # 3. [2 3]

    # Fun fact: you can use negative indices!
    #
    log(numbers[:-1]) # 4. [1 2 3 4]

    # "Terrific" readability, Mr. Rossum! Well done!
    #
    # Now let's say I want to append six:
    #
    numbers.append(6)

    log(numbers) # 5. [1 2 3 4 5 6]

    # Let's now remove number 3 from it:
    #
    del numbers[2]

    log(numbers) # 6. [1 2 4 5 6]

    # Wanna insert some number? Don't worry, it is
    # straight forward in Python!
    #
    numbers.insert(2, 3)

    log(numbers) # 7. [1 2 3 4 5 6]

    # In order to copy a slice, here is what you do:
    #
    copiedNumbers = numbers[:]
    # or          = list(numbers)

    log(copiedNumbers) # 8. [1 2 3 4 5 6]

    # And there's more.