[Python-Dev] PEP 273 - Import from Zip Archives (original) (raw)

James C. Ahlstrom jim@interet.com
Thu, 28 Feb 2002 09:44:44 -0500

M.-A. Lemburg wrote:

Sure, but for finding imputil itself you still need the C import mechanism. Even worse: if Python can't find imputil (for some reason), it would be completely broken.

The other objection raised at the time was the possible slow down of imports.

I think the existing C module search code is basically good, although I wouldn't mind moving module import into a Python method. But since the C works, I have little motivation to replace it.

My only gripe with the existing C implementation is that I would like to have more hooks available. Currently, you have to replace the complete API in order to add new features -- not exactly OO :-/

My code uses os.listdir to cache directory contents, but defers its use until the os module can be imported using the C import code. I think a similar trick could be used to replace imports with a new module. This would make it easy to replace imports. But this would not make it easy to add features unless a module were available which implemented the current import semantics in Python.

BTW, how is progress on the ZIP import patch doing ? Perhaps Jim should just check in what he has so that the code gets a little more code review...

The code is "done" has been in Source Forge patch 492105 for some time.

I am leaving for Panama tomorrow for 8 days, so if I seem to disappear, that's why. I would be happy to work hard on this after I get back, because I think it is an important addition for Python.

JimA