[Python-Dev] bytes.from_hex() [Was: PEP 332 revival in coordination with pep 349?] (original) (raw)

"Martin v. Löwis" martin at v.loewis.de
Sat Feb 18 19:19:55 CET 2006

M.-A. Lemburg wrote:

True. However, note that the .encode()/.decode() methods on strings and Unicode narrow down the possible return types. The corresponding .bytes methods should only allow bytes and Unicode.

I forgot that: what is the rationale for that restriction? To assure that only those types can be returned from those methods, ie. instances of basestring, which in return permits type inference for those methods.

Hmm. So it for type inference???? Where is that documented?

This looks pretty inconsistent. Either codecs can give arbitrary return types, then .encode/.decode should also be allowed to give arbitrary return types, or codecs should be restricted. What's the point of first allowing a wide interface, and then narrowing it?

Also, if type inference is the goal, what is the point in allowing two result types?

Regards, Martin

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