[Python-Dev] what level of backward compatibility? how (original) (raw)

Jewett, Jim J jim.jewett at eds.com
Thu May 6 17:19:51 EDT 2004

urlparse.py uses lists of strings to indicate which protocols have which properties.

For instance:

uses_relative = ['ftp', 'http', 'gopher', 'nntp', 'imap',	 
                 'wais', 'file', 'https', 'shttp', 'mms',
                 'prospero', 'rtsp', 'rtspu', '']

Logically, these are sets, rather than lists.

CVS change 143 changed the lists to sets.

Unfortunately, it breaks client code that did

urlparse.uses_relative.append('my_protocol')

which was as close to a documented API as existed.

(1) Is this an OK breakage with the 2.4 switch? (2) If not, should this change be backed out, or replaced with some set subclass that takes a few of the list methods?

-jJ

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