def extend(*args):
if not args:<EOL><INDENT>return {}<EOL><DEDENT>first = args[<NUM_LIT:0>]<EOL>rest = args[<NUM_LIT:1>:]<EOL>out = type(first)(first)<EOL>for each in rest:<EOL><INDENT>out.update(each)<EOL><DEDENT>return out<EOL>
shallow dictionary merge

    Args:
        a: dict to extend
        b: dict to apply to a

    Returns:
        new instance of the same type as _a_, with _a_ and _b_ merged.