[Python-Dev] zipfile.py

[Finn Bock]

[I wrote]

> - It can only add disk files. The ability to write data to a zip entry through
>   a file-like object or from a string would make it more like an API, IMHO

[JimA wrote]

>I could add a method
>     writestr(self, string, year, month, day, hour, minute, second, ...)
>There are a lot of fields required which usually come from the file.

Something like that seems fine to me. 

[I wrote]

> -  Some kind of access to the TOC entry fields (date, size, compressed
>   size etc) also seems like a nice feature.

[JimA answers]

>This access is provided directly by self.TOC, and the fields are
>documented.

Good enough. My bad, I was looking for getter methods. (me being a java dude)

[I wrote]

> I admit that I am fond of the api from java.util.zip.ZipFile and
> java.util.zip.ZipOutputStream.

[JimA asks]

>I don't know this API.  If writestr() is not sufficient, what
>API would you like?

This is only meant as a source for inspiration, certainly as a request for
change. writestr would answer my complaint nicely. Below, only one ZipEntry can
be actively read or written to at a time. All the small details of performance
and implementation complexity are ignored. 

class ZipFile:
    def getEntry(name):
          ...
          self.activeentry = ZipEntry(name)
          return self.activeentry

class ZipEntry:
     #enough methods and fields to fake file-ness to casual users like me.
     def write(list): ...
     def writelines(str): ...
     def read(size=None): ...
     def readlines(sizehint=-1): ...

     def seek(offset): ...
     def flush(): ...
     def close(str): ...

     def getSize(): ....
     def getCompressedSize(): ....
     def getFlags(): ....


regards,
finn