[Python-3000] [Python-Dev] Byte literals (was Re: [Python-checkins] Changing string constants to byte arrays ( r55119 - in python/branches/py3k-struni/Lib: codecs.py test/test_codecs.py ))

[Paul Moore]

On 08/05/07, Jim Jewett <jimjjewett at gmail.com> wrote:
> I will be unhappy if 2to3 produces code that I can't run in (at least)
> 2.6, because then I would need to convert more than once.

IIUC, the idea is that you should be able to write valid Python 2.6
code which 2to3 can convert automatically. There is no intention that
2to3 should automatically handle arbitrary 2.x code (at least, not
without the risk of bugs)., and certainly no intention that the
*output* of 2to3 be runnable in 2.6 (in general).

Yes, you convert more than once. Until you cut over, your 2.6 source
is the master, and the output of 2to3 should be treated as generated
code.

> I would be unhappy if 2to3 produced code that I couldn't safely copy;
> that is too magical.

Not sure what that means.

> I would be unhappy if 2to3 produced code that isn't a good example,
> unless it also had (at least an option, probably a default) to add
> comments suggesting a manual verification and what could *probably* be
> used instead.

I'd like 2to3 code to be at least maintainable. Surely it's too much
to assume it's going to be a good example of idiomatic 3.x code,
though?

Paul.