[Python-Dev] PEP 461 - Adding % and {} formatting to bytes (original) (raw)

Eric Snow ericsnowcurrently at gmail.com
Fri Jan 17 09:07:48 CET 2014

On Thu, Jan 16, 2014 at 3:06 PM, Jan Kaliszewski <zuo at chopin.edu.pl> wrote:

I'd treat the format()+.format()+str.format()-"ecosystem" as a nice text-data-oriented, complete Py3k feature, backported to Python 2 to share the benefits of the feature with it as well as to make the 2-to-3 transition a bit easier.

IMHO, the PEP-3101's note cited above just describes a workaround over the flaws of the Py2's obsolete text model. Moving such complications into Py3k would make the feature (and especially the ability to implement your own .format()) harder to understand and make use of -- for little profit. Such a move is not needed for compatibility. And, IMHO, the format()/format()/str.format()-matter is all about nice and flexible text formatting, not about binary data interpolation.

[disclaimer: I personally don't have many use cases for any bytes formatting.]

Yet there is still a strong symmetry between str and bytes that makes bytes easier to use. I don't always use formatting, but when I do I use .format(). :)

never-been-a-fan-of-mod-formatting-ly yours,

-eric

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