[Python-Dev] Backports of standard library modules (original) (raw)

Patrick Maupin pmaupin at gmail.com
Sun Mar 11 23:32:28 CET 2007

Please forgive me if this has already been discussed -- I only recently started paying any attention to this list.

Many versions of python include "new" standard library modules that could (or often do already) work fine with previous versions. Some of the modules are brand-new, written explicitly for the standard library, and others are preexisting modules that, by community consensus, are added to the library.

It seems that once a new library module is added, if it doesn't rely heavily on new core language features, it should also be added for previous versions. Obviously, it doesn't make sense to re-release an old version of Python just because a new library is available (or even to include the new library in the old version), but it might make sense to have a separate package of "extras" or "backported" modules that is re-released for prior versions whenever a new (compatible) module is added to the standard library.

Although it is often quite easy to find and download a module for use with a prior version of Python, it would be really convenient if all of these modules were bundled up together and available as a single download, especially when it comes to Windows users and extension modules.

If this seems useful to others, I could try to start a PEP on how the process would work (but since I'm fairly new, it would be great if someone could help out a bit by validating my verbiage against some of the process requirements).

Regards, Pat

More information about the Python-Dev mailing list