[Python-Dev] summary of transitioning from % to {} formatting

[MRAB]

Antoine Pitrou wrote:
> MRAB <python <at> mrabarnett.plus.com> writes:
>> Another possibility:
>> 
>> A StringFormat class with subclasses PercentStringFormat, 
>> BraceStringFormat, and perhaps DollarStringFormat.
>> 
>> Or:
>> 
>> A StringFormat class with methods parse_percent_format, 
>> parse_brace_format, and parse_dollar_format. There could also be a
>>  format-guesser method.
> 
> I'm sorry to say this, but I think these suggestions are getting 
> foolish. We core developers might have an interest in transitioning 
> users from one formatting style to another, but the users mostly 
> don't care and don't want to bother. Imposing on users the explicit 
> use of such wrapper classes, moreover with such awfully long-winded 
> names, is not helpful to them at all, and it will earn Python the 
> reputation of a language which imposes silly constructs in the name 
> of purity.
> 
Fair enough.

The purpose of the post was really just so that we cover as many
possibilities as we can so that if at some time in the future someone
asks why we didn't consider such-and-such then we won't be saying "Oh,
never thought of that!". :-)

> If we can't find a way to make things almost transparent, we should 
> IMO abandon the whole idea of a transition.
>