[Python-Dev] [patch #100927] Fix for broken gethostbyname("0")

[Fredrik Lundh]

this patch by Pekka Pessi adds support for "0" and "-1"
to gethostbyname:

    "0" (a string, not an integer) is the same thing as ""
    (INADDR_ANY)

    "-1" is the same thing as "<broadcast>".
    (INADDR_BROADCAST)

Pekka hasn't followed up on my comments on the patch
page, so I thought I'd take the question to this forum in-
stead:

    -- why is gethostbyname "broken" if it doesn't
       support the magic strings "0" and "-1"?

I'm tempted to reject the patch, but I'm probably missing
something here...

</F>