Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

Michael Foord's mock lib also made it into the standard lib the other day, but I didn't manage to make the HN front page: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3705923

(I'll never figure out what the trick is.)



A lot of it comes down to the title.

Your title was "Michael Foord's mock library added to Python 3.3 STL" - there are a couple of problems here. Firstly, most people won't know who Michael Foord is so using his name at the start of the title won't pull in any attention. Secondly, STL isn't a well known acronym for standard library.

Something like "Python standard library finally gains a mocking library in Python 3.3" might have worked better.


Good points, thanks. I intentionally lead with the name because to me, the news was which of the mocking libs around had been chosen for standard lib inclusion. But that limits the audience to those familiar with the field; your version works much better for a general interest audience indeed. I thought STL to be pretty common though.


No, the STL is the Standard Template Library, in C++, by STepanov and Lee at the HP Software Technology Laboratory. It doesn't mean "standard library", even though some inexperienced C++ programmers get confused between the STL and the rest of the standard library, now that the STL is part of the standard library.


STL is now a name for the C++ STandard Library, but it's semi backronymed. Originally, STL stood for "Standard Template Library", when it wasn't part of the C++ standard library.

So actually, STL refers to the standard library only in the context of C++, and only because of how it came to be.


Part of the trick is also not to give away too much in the title. If people want to know, which lib has been chosen, and they click on the link to find out, that does not have too be bad thing.

Sometimes I read a title, like let's say "X website reached Y amount of visitors". Even if I find that interesting, I won't click on the link, because the title already gives away all the information. Also I am not going to upvote it, if I have not even looked at the link.


I've always seen and used "std lib" for referring to Python Standard Library.


well, I wouldn't upvote because of the word "finally" - too much editorialization




Consider applying for YC's Summer 2026 batch! Applications are open till May 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: