Slice notation in Scala?

Question

Is there something similar to the slice notation in Python in Scala?

I think this is really a useful operation that should be incorporated in all languages.

Answer 1

scala> import collection.IterableLike
import collection.IterableLike

scala> implicit def pythonicSlice[A, Repr](coll: IterableLike[A, Repr]) = new {
     |   def apply(subrange: (Int, Int)): Repr = coll.slice(subrange._1, subrange._2)
     | }
pythonicSlice: [A,Repr](coll: scala.collection.IterableLike[A,Repr])java.lang.Object{def apply(subrange: (Int, Int)): Repr}

scala> val list = List(3, 4, 11, 78, 3, 9)
list: List[Int] = List(3, 4, 11, 78, 3, 9)

scala> list(2 -> 5)
res4: List[Int] = List(11, 78, 3)

Will this do?

Disclaimer: Not properly generalized.

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EDIT:

scala> case class PRange(start: Int, end: Int, step: Int = 1)
defined class PRange

scala> implicit def intWithTildyArrow(i: Int) = new {
     |   def ~>(j: Int) = PRange(i, j)
     | }
intWithTildyArrow: (i: Int)java.lang.Object{def ~>(j: Int): PRange}

scala> implicit def prangeWithTildyArrow(p: PRange) = new {
     |   def ~>(step: Int) = p.copy(step = step)
     | }
prangeWithTildyArrow: (p: PRange)java.lang.Object{def ~>(step: Int): PRange}

scala> implicit def pSlice[A](coll: List[A]) = new {
     |   def apply(prange: PRange) = {
     |     import prange._
     |     coll.slice(start, end).grouped(step).toList.map(_.head)
     |   }
     | }
pSlice: [A](coll: List[A])java.lang.Object{def apply(prange: PRange): List[A]}

scala> val xs = List.range(1, 10)
xs: List[Int] = List(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

scala> xs(3 ~> 9)
res32: List[Int] = List(4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

scala> xs(3 ~> 9 ~> 2)
res33: List[Int] = List(4, 6, 8)