[Python-3000] u'text' as an alias for 'text'?

["Martin v. Löwis"]

> Well, he is basically required to compile his source code before he can 
> run it.
> This is quite uncommon for python code...

However, it *is* common to install Python code before running it.

I propose a scheme (which is almost implemented) where you run
2to3 as part of the distutils build step. So the converted sources
land in the build directory, if setup.py runs under 3.0 (and you
explicitly asked distutils to perform the conversion).

Then, you can either install to the target directory, or run
from the build directory. distutils does time-stamp based dependency
tracking, so it only recompiles things when you change the original
source.

So yes, you get a compilation step, but not one unheard of (distutils
isn't new), and with the usual standard of comfort for compile steps.

Lennart, can you please comment whether this (need for compilation)
was also your concern, or just Ralf's?

Regards,
Martin