python-dev Summary for 2004-10-01 through 2004-10-15

[Brett C.]

This is a summary of traffic on the `python-dev mailing list`_ from October 01, 
2004 through October 15, 2004.  It is intended to inform the wider Python 
community of on-going developments on the list.  To comment on anything 
mentioned here, just post to `comp.lang.python`_ (or email 
python-list at python.org which is a gateway to the newsgroup) with a subject line 
mentioning what you are discussing. All python-dev members are interested in 
seeing ideas discussed by the community, so don't hesitate to take a stance on 
something.  And if all of this really interests you then get involved and join 
`python-dev`_!

This is the fiftieth summary written by Brett Cannon (Time for my summary
mid-life crisis).

To contact me, please send email to brett at python.org ; I do not have the 
time to keep up on comp.lang.python and thus do not always catch follow-ups 
posted there.

All summaries are archived at http://www.python.org/dev/summary/ .

Please note that this summary is written using reStructuredText_ which can be 
found at http://docutils.sf.net/rst.html .  Any unfamiliar punctuation is 
probably markup for reST_ (otherwise it is probably regular expression syntax 
or a typo =); you can safely ignore it, although I suggest learning reST; it's 
simple and is accepted for `PEP markup`_ and gives some perks for the HTML 
output.  Also, because of the wonders of programs that like to reformat text, I 
cannot guarantee you will be able to run the text version of this summary 
through Docutils_ as-is unless it is from the `original text file`_.

.. _PEP Markup: http://www.python.org/peps/pep-0012.html

The in-development version of the documentation for Python can be found at
http://www.python.org/dev/doc/devel/ and should be used when looking up any
documentation on new code; otherwise use the current documentation as found at
http://docs.python.org/ .  PEPs (Python Enhancement Proposals) are located at 
http://www.python.org/peps/ .  To view files in the Python CVS online, go to 
http://cvs.sourceforge.net/cgi-bin/viewcvs.cgi/python/ .  Reported bugs and 
suggested patches can be found at the SourceForge_ project page.

The `Python Software Foundation`_ is the non-profit organization that holds the 
intellectual property for Python.  It also tries to forward the development and 
use of Python.  But the PSF_ cannot do this without donations.  You can make a 
donation at http://python.org/psf/donations.html .  Every penny helps so even a 
small donation (you can donate through PayPal or by check) helps.

.. _python-dev: http://www.python.org/dev/
.. _SourceForge: http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=5470
.. _python-dev mailing list: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-dev
.. _comp.lang.python: http://groups.google.com/groups?q=comp.lang.python
.. _Docutils: http://docutils.sf.net/
.. _reST:
.. _reStructuredText: http://docutils.sf.net/rst.html
.. _PSF:
.. _Python Software Foundation: http://python.org/psf/

.. contents::

.. _last summary: http://www.python.org/dev/summary/2004-09-16_2004-09-30.html
.. _original text file: http://www.python.org/dev/summary/2004-10-01_2004-10-15.ht



=====================
Summary Announcements
=====================
Sorry for the very late and short summary but I am in extreme crunch mode right 
now with school (partially thanks to a research paper comparing Python to Java) 
and preparing for applications to doctorate programs (any recommendations for 
schools with a good CS dept. and language research would be appreciated). 
Don't expect things to pick up again until the quarter is over (Dec. 9th is my 
last final).


=========
Summaries
=========
----------------------
New module: subprocess
----------------------
Peter Ästrand wrote `PEP 324`_ to come up with a platform-independent way to 
create processes.  Originally entitled popen5, it has now been added to the 
stdlib as subprocess.

.. _PEP 324: http://www.python.org/peps/pep-0324.html

Contributing threads:
   - `subprocess - updated popen5 module 
<http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2004-October/049270.html>`__
   - `python/dist/src/Lib subprocess.py,NONE,1.1 
<http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2004-October/049361.html>`__
   - `Wither docs for the subprocess module? 
<http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2004-October/049444.html>`__

--------------------
Python 2.4.b1 is out
--------------------
`Python 2.4b1`_ has been released.  As usual please download it, run the test 
suite, and test it with your own code.

.. _Python 2.4b1: http://www.python.org/2.4/

Contributing threads:
   - `2.4b1 release, this Friday (AU time) -- imminent TRUNK FREEZING 
<http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2004-October/049383.html>`__
   - `RELEASED Python 2.4, beta 1 
<http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2004-October/049452.html>`__
   - `TRUNK UNFROZEN (release is done) 
<http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2004-October/049453.html>`__

--------------------------------------
We need a replacement for ConfigParser
--------------------------------------
David Goodger brought forward two patches for ConfigParser he wanted to apply. 
  This quickly brought up the point that ConfigParser's API is not exactly 
optimal.  So the decision was made to field new designs.  If you happen to have 
your own code lying around that handles .ini files nicely then get it cleaned 
up and consider proposing at as a replacement.

Some ideas have already been floated on the list but will have to wait for the 
next summary for mention/discussion.

Contributing threads:
   - `ConfigParser patches 
<http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2004-October/049167.html>`__


===============
Skipped Threads
===============
- Guidelines for Logging Usage
- Status of undocumented distutils features in 2.4?
- Toward Python's future article
- test_pep263.py is "-kb" in CVS
- python/dist/src/Doc/whatsnew whatsnew24.tex, 1.108, 1.109
- Python on Windows 64bits?
- About the Wise installer on Windows
- Patch wanted
- python/dist/src/Objects unicodeobject.c, 2.228, 2.229
- Minor cookielib changes for 2.4b1
- proposed struct module format code addition
- Cyclic GC issues
     Just don't have the time to summarize this, but a in-depth discussion of 
garbage collection involving extension code and using non-Python structs.
- python-dev Summary for 2004-09-16 through 2004-09-30 [draft]
     Lead to a discussion of executing modules in packages using the new '-m' 
command-line flag.