[Python-Dev] float atime/mtime/ctime - a bad idea? (original) (raw)

Barry A. Warsaw barry@python.org
Wed, 16 Oct 2002 09:06:16 -0400

"GvR" == Guido van Rossum <guido@python.org> writes:

GvR> In this particular case, I think having a global flag should
GvR> be good enough.  We can easily rig the standard library not
GvR> to depend on its value.  It should be settable by calling a
GvR> function, e.g.

GvR>   os.stat_times(int)

GvR> or

GvR>   os.stat_times(float)

GvR> If you think passing the actual type objects is too cute, we
GvR> can call it stat_float_times() and pass a bool.

So then why not just make this an optional argument flag on the os.stat() call itself? That way you could migrate some code at a different rate than other code (a global flag might be fine for your application, but break some 3rd party library you're using).

-Barry