[Python-Dev] Syntax suggestion for imports

[Raymond Hettinger]

The standard library, my personal code, third-party packages, and my employer's code base are filled with examples of the following pattern:

try:
   import threading
except ImportError:
   import dummy_threading as threading

try:
    import xml.etree.cElementTree as ET
except ImportError:
    try:
        import cElementTree as ET
    except ImportError:
        import elementtree.ElementTree as ET

try:
    from cStringIO import StringIO
except ImportError:
    from StringIO import StringIO

try:
    import readline
except ImportError:
    pass


How about a new, simpler syntax:

* import threading or dummy_threading as threading

* import xml.etree.CElementTree or cElementTree or elementree.ElementTree as ET

* from cStringIO or StringIO import StringIO

* import readline or emptymodule