[Python-Dev] Proposed: add support for UNC paths to all functions in ntpath (original) (raw)

Eric Smith eric at trueblade.com
Thu Apr 30 00:59:25 CEST 2009

Michael Foord wrote:

Larry Hastings wrote:

I've written a patch for Python 3.1 that changes os.path so it handles UNC paths on Windows: http://bugs.python.org/issue5799 +1 for the feature. I have to deal with Windows networks from time to time and this would be useful.

+1 from me, too. I haven't looked at the implementation, but for sure the feature would be welcome.

In the interests of full disclosure: I submitted a patch providing this exact behavior just over ten years ago. GvR accepted it into Python 1.5.2b2 (marked "EXPERIMENTAL") and removed it from 1.5.2c1.

In the intervening decade, two highly relevant things have happened: * Python no longer uses ntpath for os.path on Cygwin. Instead it uses posixpath. * Cygwin removed the "//a/foo" drive letter hack. In fact, I believe it now support UNC paths. Therefore this patch will have no effect on Cygwin users.

Yes, cygwin supports UNC paths with //host/share, and they use /cygdrive/a, etc., to refer to physical drives. It's been that way for as long as I recall, at least 7 years.

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