[Python-Dev] The bytes type (original) (raw)

Steve Holden steve at holdenweb.com
Sun Jan 14 22:38:53 CET 2007

Guido van Rossum wrote:

On 1/12/07, Raymond Hettinger <python at rcn.com> wrote:

[A.M. Kuchling]

2.6 wouldn't go changing existing APIs to begin requiring or returning the bytes type[*], of course, but extensions and new modules might use it. The premise is dubious.

If I am currently maintaining a module, why would I switch to a bytes type and forgo compatibility with Py2.5 and prior? I might as well just convert it to run on Py3.0 and leave my Py2.5 code as-is for people who want to run 2.x. If I'm writing a new module, what's the point of twisting myself into knots to get it to run on both Py2.6 and Py3.0? That just makes coding harder (by limiting me to the intersection of the feature sets). I think we should draw a line in the sand and resolve not to garbage-up Py2.6. The whole Py3.0 project is about eliminating cruft and being free of the bonds of backwards compatibility. Adding non-essential cruft to Py2.6 goes against that philosophy. I'm not so sure, since 2.6 will likely be out and stable long before 3.0 gains much of a foothold. I believe the experiences with a similar approach in the Zope world for the 2->3 transition was overall a favorable one. However, I'd be loathe to make any compromises in 3.0 in order to make life easier for 2.6. The burden must be on 2.6 (and 2.7-2.9), and if it's just impossible, that's too bad for them. This may have been discussed ob the Py3k list, and/or may be inappropriate for python-dev. I just wondered if you could indicate whether the developers of Jython, IronPython and PyPy have indicated any interest in and/or commitment to supporting Py3.0.

It's important that the development of 3.0 doesn't fragment the development community (not to mention the user community), and Jython is already aiming at a moving target in its attempts to catch up.

regards Steve

Steve Holden +44 150 684 7255 +1 800 494 3119 Holden Web LLC/Ltd http://www.holdenweb.com Skype: holdenweb http://del.icio.us/steve.holden Blog of Note: http://holdenweb.blogspot.com

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