[Python-Dev] proto-pep: plugin proposal (for unittest) (original) (raw)

Michael Foord fuzzyman at voidspace.org.uk
Fri Jul 30 17:04:27 CEST 2010

On 30/07/2010 15:41, Marty Alchin wrote:

This is my first post to python-dev, so for those who might not know me, I'm the author of Pro Django and more recently, Pro Python.

I haven't looked at the plugin landscape in a while, but I was very disappointed the last time I looked at how complex typical systems were in this regard. There seems to be entirely too much time spend worrying about type checking, interface requirements and the like. Python is based on simple ideas providing simple solutions, and I would argue that duck typing is a perfectly acceptable route to take.

There is no type checking or interface requirements in my plugin proposal for unittest. It is essentially an event based system.

I'd suggest that any plugin system proposal start off simple and work up as needs arise, rather than trying to cover as many bases as possible at the outset. I know it doesn't cover all the bases yet (particularly with regard to discoverability), so I'm not throwing it in as a proper suggestion, but I'll point out that I wrote up a dead-simple plugin system a while back[1] that may provide a useful starting point for discussion.

Tarek and I will look at what common ground there is between our plugin needs and see if that can be usefully abstracted out. FWIW I think PEP 376 (as amended - needs updating I believe) for plugin installation and discovery probably covers most of the common ground anyway.

For the actual plugins our two systems are very different.

I haven't read the existing proposals yet,

If you want to help us this may be a good place to start... ;-)

Michael

but I just wanted to breathe a word of caution into this before it gets too far into interfaces and whatnot. I'll be glad to help with any discussion that takes place on this, though. It'll be a good way to ease into the mailing list, since it's an area where I've already spent a good deal of thought.

-Marty [1] http://martyalchin.com/2008/jan/10/simple-plugin-framework/

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