[Python-Dev] RE: [Distutils] Terminology question (original) (raw)

Lyle Johnson jlj@cfdrc.com
Fri, 26 May 2000 08:20:34 -0500

How about "PWAN", the "package without a name"? ;)

-----Original Message----- From: distutils-sig-admin@python.org [mailto:distutils-sig-admin@python.org]On Behalf Of Greg Ward Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2000 5:34 PM To: distutils-sig@python.org; python-dev@python.org Subject: [Distutils] Terminology question

A question of terminology: frequently in the Distutils docs I need to refer to the package-that-is-not-a-package, ie. the "root" or "empty" package. I can't decide if I prefer "root package", "empty package" or what. ("Empty" just means the name is empty, so it's probably not a very good thing to say "empty package" -- but "package with no name" or "unnamed package" aren't much better.) Is there some accepted convention that I have missed? Here's the definition I've just written for the "Distribution Python Modules" manual: \item[root package] the ``package'' that modules not in a package live in. The vast majority of the standard library is in the root package, as are many small, standalone third-party modules that don't belong to a larger module collection. (The root package isn't really a package, since it doesn't have an \file{__init__.py} file. But we have to call it something.) Confusing enough? I thought so... Greg -- Greg Ward - Unix nerd gward@python.net http://starship.python.net/~gward/ Beware of altruism. It is based on self-deception, the root of all evil.

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