[Python-Dev] regrtest.py mystery (original) (raw)

Tim Peters tim.one@home.com
Mon, 17 Dec 2001 14:38:48 -0500

Without diving into the unloading pit, the endless problems with -r on non-Unix boxes would go away if a module that failed to import didn't leave behind a damaged module object in sys.modules ("damaged" == it may not fulfill some or any of the module's contracts, and it's impossible to guess which ones it won't, or to guess how the unfufilled ones may fail).

I'm tempted to add a pile of Windows-specific modules that import each other in incestuous ways, so everyone can enjoy this chronic pain .

"A fix" seems to amount to treating

import M

as if it were

try: import M except: if M in sys.modules: del sys.modules[M] raise

How would that hurt?