title: PEP 8, why no spaces around '=' in keyword argument or a default parameter value?
body: <p>Why does <a href="http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0008/#other-recommendations">PEP 8 recommend not having spaces around <code>=</code> in a keyword argument or a default parameter value</a>?</p>
  
  <p>Is this inconsistent with recommending spaces around every other occurrence of <code>=</code> in Python code?</p>
  
  <p>How is:</p>
  
  <pre><code>func(1, 2, very_long_variable_name=another_very_long_variable_name)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>better than:</p>
  
  <pre><code>func(1, 2, very_long_variable_name = another_very_long_variable_name)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Any links to discussion/explanation by Python's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benevolent_Dictator_for_Life">BDFL</a> will be appreciated.</p>
  
  <p>Mind, this question is more about kwargs than default values, i just used the phrasing from PEP 8.</p>
  
  <p>I'm not soliciting opinions. I'm asking for reasons behind this decision. It's more like asking <strong>why</strong> would I use <code>{</code> on the same line as <code>if</code> statement in a C program, not <strong>whether</strong> I should use it or not.</p>