Chain together methods in Python as in Ruby -

in ruby, 1 can chain methods so:

a = [2,3,1] b = a.sort.reverse 

which sets value of variable b [3,2,1] while leaving a same.

i'd perform similar operations in python. far, shortest way have found is:

import copy = [2,3,1] b = copy.copy(a) b.sort() b.reverse() 

that is, 5 lines of code instead of 2. there no simpler way?

clarification: original answer found below. commented, question on chaining in general, not in specific case. clarification on can found @ end of answer.

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you can write down pretty directly.

a = [2,3,1] b = sorted(a, reverse=true) 

even if want use methods, can rather straightforward well:

a = [2,3,1] b = a.copy()  # a[:] in python2 b.sort(reverse=true) 

python tends rather picky implicit cloning. copying references cheap, copying objects expensive. since many python types mutable, 1 can introduce subtle bugs when things cloned (or not) accident. thus, interfaces need explicitly clone things.

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chaining methods in python possible. however, chains apply objects returned previous method (or function) calls.

basically, chaining method calls chaining functions.

foo = they.method.method.method() foo = my_func(your_func(their_func())) 

let's consider [2,3,1].sort().reverse(). equivalent following:

a = [2,3,1] b = a.sort() c = b.reverse() 

since s.sort() returns none, third line call none.reverse() - not defined none.

immutable types behave better here. example, strings cannot modified inplace - methods return new strings. thus,

s = "ab:cd".upper().center(20).partition(':') print(s) 

gives (' ab', ':', 'cd ').