hello python-ideas, i'd like to start discussion about the state of asyncore/asynchat's adaption in the python standard library, with the intention of finding a roadmap for how to improve things, and of kicking off and coordinating implementations. here's the problem (as previously described in [issue15978] and redirected here, with some additions): the asyncore module would be much more useful if it were well integrated in the standard library. in particular, it should be supported by: * subprocess * BaseHTTPServer / http.server (and thus, socketserver) * urllib2 / urllib, http.client * probably many other network libraries except smtpd, which already uses asyncore * third party libraries (if stdlib leads the way, the ecosystem will follow; eg pyserial) without widespread asyncore support, it is not possible to easily integrate different servers and services with each other; with asyncore support, it's just a matter of creating the objects and entering the main loop. (eg, a http server for controlling a serial device, with a telnet-like debugging interface). some examples of the changes required: * the socketserver documents that it would like to have such a framework ("Future work: [...] Standard framework for select-based multiplexing"). due to the nature of socketserver based implementations (blocking reads), we can't just "add glue so it works", but there could be extensions so that implementations can be ported to asynchronous socketservers. i've done if for a particular case (ported SimpleHTTPServer, but it's a mess of monkey-patching and intermediate StringIOs). * for subprocess, there's a bunch of recipies at [1]. * pyserial (not standard library, but might as well become) can be ported quite easily [2]. this touches several modules whose implementations can be handled independently from each other; i'd implement some of them myself. terry.reedy redirected me from the issue tracker to this list, hoping for controversy and alternatives. if you'd like to discuss, throw in questions, and we'll find a solution. if you'd think talk is cheap, i can try to work out first sketches. python already has batteries for nonblocking operation included, and i say it's doing it right -- let's just make sure the batteries fit in the other gadgets! yours truly chrysn [1] http://code.activestate.com/recipes/576957-asynchronous-subprocess-using-asy... [2] http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&aid=3559321&group_id=46487&atid=446305 [issue15978] http://bugs.python.org/issue15978 -- Es ist nicht deine Schuld, dass die Welt ist, wie sie ist -- es wär' nur deine Schuld, wenn sie so bleibt. (You are not to blame for the state of the world, but you would be if that state persisted.) -- Die Ärzte