[Python-Dev] The path module PEP

[Ian Bicking]

BJörn Lindqvist wrote:
>     * Functions for reading and writing a whole file - better handled
>       by file objects read() and write() methods.

I would be disappointed to see this left out, because I get really tired 
of this little dance:

   f = open(filename)
   c = f.read()
   f.close()
   return c

Then you can put a try:finally: in there too for extra correctness. 
Anyway, I write this code all the time, and it's really tiresome. 
open(filename).read() also works, but relies on Python's reference 
counting to be really reliable; maybe I shouldn't worry about that and 
use just that form.  But that bothers me too.  The same occurs during 
writing.

The original Path object has a bytes and text method (I think), which 
nicely distinguishes between the two cases.  This helps suggest better 
and more explicit handling of unicode, something that Python should work 
harder at making clear.


-- 
Ian Bicking  /  ianb at colorstudy.com  /  http://blog.ianbicking.org