PEP 215 (was Re: [Python-Dev] PEP 216 (string interpolation) alternative EvalDict)

[jepler@inetnebr.com]

On Tue, Jan 15, 2002 at 02:04:10AM -0500, Barry A. Warsaw wrote:
> [1] I use _() ostensibly to mark translatable strings, but it has a
> side benefit in that it interpolates into the string named variables
> from the locals and globals of the calling context.  It does this by
> using sys._getframe(1) in Python 2.1 and try/except hackery in older
> versions of Python.  I find it quite handy, and admittedly magical,
> but then I'm not suggesting it become a standard Python feature. :)

This caught my eye.

How will programs that use PEP215 for string interpolation be translatable?
All translation systems use some method of identifying the strings in
source code, then permitting mapping from the string identifiers to the
real strings at runtime.  With "gettext", the "string identifier" is
typically the original-language string, and the marker/mapper is spelled
_("string literal").

Given that short introduction, it's obvious how 
	_("hi there, %s") % yourname
works, and why
	_("hi there, %s" % yourname)
doesn't work, but how will I use a similar scheme to translate
	$"hi there, $yourname"
?  Obviously, 
	_($"hi there, $yourname")
won't work, because it's equivalent to the second, non-working translation
example.

Well, I guess we could add _ and $_ strings to Python, right?

grumble-grumble'ly yours,
Jeff