[Python-Dev] Change in repr of Decimal in 2.6

[Raymond Hettinger]

From: Karen Tracey 
> I noticed when trying out Python's 2.6b2 release that the repr of Decimal has changed since 2.5.  On 2.5:
 ...
>  quotes were used whereas on 2.6b2:
...
> single quotes are used.  Searching around I see this was done in r60773 with the log message:
> Fix decimal repr which should have used single quotes like other reprs.
>
> but I can't find any discussion other than that.  

Guido requested this change so that the Decimal repr would match the style used elsewhere (i.e. str(7) --> '7').


> If it's here to stay, is there some straightforward way that I am unaware 
> of to construct tests that use Decimal repr but will work correctly on 
> Python 2.3-2.6?

A quick hack is to monkey patch the decimal module:

    >>> import decimal
    >>> decimal.Decimal.__repr__ = lambda s: 'Decimal("%s")' % str(s)

A better fix is to amend to doctests to not rely on the __repr__ format.
Instead of:

   >>> Decimal('7.1')
   Decimal("7.1")

use:

   >>> print Decimal('7.1')
   7.1


Raymond




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