Re: [Python-Dev] Single- vs. Multi-pass iterability

On Tue, Jul 16, 2002, Greg Ewing wrote:

Guido:

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Greg:

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If the file object were to become an object obeying the iterator protocol, its next() method should really return the next *byte* of the file.

I don't think so. We should pick the most convenient chunking for the default iterator

But we're talking here about making the file object *be* an iterator itself, not just have a "default iterator". If that's to happen, all the other ways of iterating over a file ought to be implemented on top of the basic iteration facility provided by the file object -- lest we get unfortunate interactions between the different iteration methods a la xreadlines(). To me, this implies that the file object must iterate by bytes.

"Practicality beats purity"