On Sun, 03 Oct 2004 13:28:30 -0600, Shane Holloway (IEEE)
One of the greatest things I use struct is for is packing (and unpacking) the python building blocks for "external use" -- network, database, and (usually C) libraries. I think it would be best if all the building blocks could be packed and unpacked from one module.
The additions to binascii would be more convenient to use of the two additions. But truth to tell, I rarely use binascii. I tend to prefer struct.pack with str.encode.
What do you think about adding long.tobytes()/long.frombytes() to go with the new bytes() type? <wink>
Sorry for introducing my not-very-qualified words on this topic, but... I've read the thread up to this point wondering why the bytes() type were not being thought of as a clean and definitive solution to this problem. It would allow to greatly simplify everything regarding struct, binascii and arbitrary low level data manipulation for networking and similar stuff. I also agree with Tim Peters comments regarding struct's C heritage -- I never really liked C even when I *had* to use it daily, and the struct syntax still reads alien to me. I know this is another timeframe entirely, but *if* my vote counted, I would be +1 for a future struct implementation tightly integrated with the bytes() type. But that's me anyway. -- Carlos Ribeiro Consultoria em Projetos blog: http://rascunhosrotos.blogspot.com blog: http://pythonnotes.blogspot.com mail: carribeiro@gmail.com mail: carribeiro@yahoo.com