[Python-Dev] 2.2.1 issues (original) (raw)

Aahz Maruch aahz@rahul.net
Tue, 19 Feb 2002 09:14:47 -0800 (PST)

Fred L. Drake, Jr. wrote:

M.-A. Lemburg writes:

The problem with backporting this patch is that in order for Python to properly recompile any broken module, the magic will have to be changed. Question is whether this is a reasonable thing to do in a patch level release... Guido can rule as he sees fit, but I don't see any reason not to change the magic number. This seems like a pretty important fix to me.

The question is not whether it's an important fix, but whether the fix and its consequences are important enough to warrant changing the magic number. It's obviously possible for people to regen their .pyc files by deleting them, so I think we should wait for Guido to say "yes" before bumping the magic number, given that one of the cardinal points of the new bugfix process is that .pyc files will not be regenerated due to a bugfix release.

Note carefully that I do agree that it's a serious enough issue to consider the possibility of breaking that rule, but I think we can't afford to pull the trigger without Guido's specific buy-in. We'll also need to think about how we're going to market it if we do bump the magic number.

To me, then, the proper question is, "Is this an issue where automatic regeneration of .pyc files is sufficiently important?"

(I don't know enough to have an opinion myself ;-), but I'll point out that the import failure means that at least it isn't a silent failure -- which I would absolutely agree needs a magic number bump.)

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