[Python-Dev] Re: [Pythonmac-SIG] The versioning question... (original) (raw)

"Martin v. Löwis" martin at v.loewis.de
Tue Dec 28 14:30:46 CET 2004

Chris Barker wrote:

This really doesn't work well for complex packages. I was quite involved with the debate about versioning for wxPython (and helped drive it happening) and that was what I originally proposed. The problem is that you have a whole pile of modules and libs and user code that all imports the package. There are a LOT of "import wx" lines in the wxPython library, and a whole bunch more in a sizable wxPython app. As you upgrade, every one of those would have to be changed to

import wxxyz as wx

Not at all. Import wx_x_y_z could do

sys.modules["wx"] = wx_x_y_z

and then all references to

import wx

would automatically resolve to the version that was imported first (or last, depending on your implementation strategy).

This was not considered a reasonable solution. Among other things, it's really nice to be able to make a small change in just one file, and be able to test your app against a new version.

Even if the package is not prepared to register itself under a different name also, this one file could modify sys.modules. Or you can have a wx.py that reads

from wx_x_y_z import *

Then, wx.py would be that single file.

The versioning system that wxPython now has is quite nice, and seems to fit most people's needs well.

Very good! Then I don't see a need to change anything in Python.

This is quite true, and why I haven't bothered with a PEP, but maybe I've got the thinking backwards, we need the PEP to get the "important" people thinking about it.

I don't think a PEP is needed - Python already appears to have everything you need to come up with your own versioning rules.

Regards, Martin

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