[Python-Dev] Encoding of 8-bit strings and Python source code

[Tim Peters]

[/F]
> ...
> But alright, I give up.  I've wasted way too much time on this, my
> patches were rejected, and nobody seems to care.  Not exactly
> inspiring.

I lost track of this stuff months ago, and since I use only 7-bit ASCII in
my own source code and file names and etc etc, UTF-8 and Latin-1 are
identical to me <0.5 wink>.

[Guido]
> Sorry, all this proposal does is change the default encoding on
> conversions from UTF-8 to Latin-1.  That's very
> western-culture-centric.

Well, if you talk with an Asian, they'll probably tell you that Unicode
itself is Eurocentric, and especially UTF-8 (UTF-7 introduces less bloat for
non-Latin-1 Unicode characters).  Most everyone likes their own national
gimmicks best.  Or, as Andy once said (paraphrasing), the virtue of UTF-8 is
that it annoys everyone.

I do expect that the vase bulk of users would be less surprised if Latin-1
*were* the default encoding.  Then the default would be usable as-is for
many more people; UTF-8 is usable as-is only for me (i.e., 7-bit Americans).
The non-Euros are in for a world of pain no matter what.

just-because-some-groups-can't-win-doesn't-mean-everyone-must-
    lose-ly y'rs  - tim