$ python
Python 2.7.12 (default, Aug 9 2016, 15:48:18)
[GCC 6.1.1 20160621 (Red Hat 6.1.1-3)] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> a = [1, 2, 3]
>>> b = a
>>> b
[1, 2, 3]
>>> b[0] = 9
>>> b
[9, 2, 3]
>>> a
[9, 2, 3]
>>>
この場合 a = b はリストのオブジェクトへの参照をコピーしているだけのようです。これは a, b それぞれのオブジェクトの id を調べることで確認できます。
$ rpm -qi xmind
Name : xmind
Version : 3.6.51
Release : 2
Architecture: x86_64
Install Date: 2016年08月11日 09時07分53秒
Group : Converted/non-free/editors
Size : 144195258
License : see /usr/share/doc/xmind/copyright
Signature : (none)
Source RPM : xmind-3.6.51-2.src.rpm
Build Date : 2016年08月11日 09時02分41秒
Build Host : notepc
Relocations : (not relocatable)
Summary : Professional & Powerful Mind Mapping Software
Description :
XMind, is an open source brainstorming and mind mapping software tool
developed by XMind Ltd. It helps people to capture ideas, organize to
various charts, and share them for collaboration. Supporting mind maps,
fishbone diagrams, tree diagrams, org-charts, logic charts, and even
matrix. Often used for knowledge management, meeting minutes, task
management, and GTD. XMind is compatible with Freemind/Mindmanager.
XMind is dual licensed under 2 open source licenses: the Eclipse Public
License v1.0 (EPL) and the GNU Lesser General Public License v3 (LGPL).
XMind Plus/Pro is released under the terms of the XMIND PROPRIETARY LICENSE
AGREEMENT, which is available at http://www.xmind.net/license/xpla/ .
(Converted from a deb package by alien version 8.90.)
$