[Python-Dev] PEP 292, Simpler String Substitutions

[Oren Tirosh]

On Fri, Jun 21, 2002 at 12:54:53PM -0700, Paul Prescod wrote:
> > No need for double backslash. No need for a special string prefix either
> > because \( currently has no meaning.
> 
> I like this idea but note that \( does have a current meaning:
> 
> >>> "\("
> '\\('
> >>> "\(" =="\\("
> 1

"""Unlike Standard C, all unrecognized escape sequences are left in the 
string unchanged, i.e., the backslash is left in the string. (This behavior 
is useful when debugging: if an escape sequence is mistyped, the resulting 
output is more easily recognized as broken.) """

In other words, programs that rely on this beaviour are broken.

	Oren