[issue36000] __debug__ is a keyword but not a keyword

[Steven D'Aprano]

Steven D'Aprano <steve+python at pearwood.info> added the comment:

I'm not sure that __debug__ is a proper keyword. Unlike None, if you monkey-patch builtins, you can modify it:

py> builtins.__dict__['__debug__'] = 'Surprise!'
py> __debug__
'Surprise!'

py> builtins.__dict__['None'] = 'Surprise!'
py> None
py>


And it is not listed here:

https://docs.python.org/3.7/reference/lexical_analysis.html#keywords

So __debug__ appears to me to be in a strange grey area, part regular name and part keyword, but not quite either.

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nosy: +steven.daprano

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