[Python-Dev] Direction of PyChecker (original) (raw)

Skip Montanaro skip@pobox.com (Skip Montanaro)
Mon, 13 Aug 2001 11:04:16 -0500 

GvR> For tools like PyChecker, a higher level is more appropriate: give
GvR> it an abstract syntax tree that can answer questions related to the
GvR> symbol table, so that you can tell for example whether 'x = y'
GvR> assigns a local to a global or vice versa -- and if a local is
GvR> involved, in which function it is defined.

Jeremy> I'm not sure how much time I can make for it in the 2.2 release
Jeremy> schedule, but I think a high-level source analysis module would
Jeremy> be a valuable addition to the compiler package.  We've got
Jeremy> pychecker and pydoc as to drive the requirements.  Do you think
Jeremy> it's worth making time for in the 2.2 release schedule?

I don't think so. Designing features to suit the needs of just two tools may result in a module that's suited for them. Pydoc and pychecker work now. I suggest working on such a module for 2.3 instead, where you'll have a fair bit of time to properly analyze the requirements.

Skip