[Python-Dev] Keyword module cruft question (original) (raw)

Patrick K. O'Brien pobrien@orbtech.com
Tue, 29 Oct 2002 17:52:20 -0600

On Tuesday 29 October 2002 04:41 pm, Guido van Rossum wrote:

Lots of modules have attributes that are cruft according to this definition. I personally see no reason to get rid of all these -- they're harmless and "from M import *" doesn't import them. Feel free to hold your own code to a higher standard though. ;-)

I understand what you are saying, and respectfully disagree. Extraneous=20 attributes are harmful to the extent that one has to know to ignore them.= =20 Knowing what to ignore is difficult when learning Python or working with = an=20 unfamiliar module. And extraneous attributes are cumbersome when making u= se=20 of Python's introspection features, such as dir(object), or when using a=20 Python shell or editor that offers autocompletion. And, finally, they get= in=20 the way while writing an article about Python introspection. ;-)

Also, little things like this make it more challenging to present Python = in=20 its most positive light for a general audience, featuring characteristics= of=20 the language that are supposed to show how it is a better choice than oth= er=20 languages. I'm not saying that having a few extraneous attributes is a hu= ge=20 flaw. And you know how much of a fan of Python I am. But anything that ha= s to=20 be "brushed under the rug" can create doubt among those who aren't alread= y=20 part of the Python community. And I don't think a higher standard would h= urt=20 the standard library.

Just something to think about.

--=20 Patrick K. O'Brien Orbtech http://www.orbtech.com/web/pobrien

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