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

Guido van Rossum guido at python.org
Fri May 7 00:29:01 EDT 2004

Jewett, Jim J wrote: > Unfortunately, it breaks client code that did > > urlparse.usesrelative.append('myprotocol') > > which was as close to a documented API as existed.

Why are you saying that (or: what does that mean)? The usesrelative attribute of urlparse was never documented, AFAICT. > (1) Is this an OK breakage with the 2.4 switch? If it wasn't documented, it is OK to break it, but it should be mentioned in whatsnew24.tex.

I have a different POV. I don't think there is a compelling reason to change this attribute into a set (I doubt it's so time-critical as to make a difference) and given that the attribute isn't flagged as "private" by having a name starting with underscore, I think the change ought to be reverted.

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)

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