[Python-Dev] RE: [Distutils] Terminology question

[Lyle Johnson]

How about "PWAN", the "package without a name"? ;)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: distutils-sig-admin@python.org
> [mailto:distutils-sig-admin@python.org]On Behalf Of Greg Ward
> Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2000 5:34 PM
> To: distutils-sig@python.org; python-dev@python.org
> Subject: [Distutils] Terminology question
> 
> 
> A question of terminology: frequently in the Distutils docs I need to
> refer to the package-that-is-not-a-package, ie. the "root" or "empty"
> package.  I can't decide if I prefer "root package", "empty package" or
> what.  ("Empty" just means the *name* is empty, so it's probably not a
> very good thing to say "empty package" -- but "package with no name" or
> "unnamed package" aren't much better.)
> 
> Is there some accepted convention that I have missed?
> 
> Here's the definition I've just written for the "Distribution Python
> Modules" manual:
> 
> \item[root package] the ``package'' that modules not in a package live
>   in.  The vast majority of the standard library is in the root package,
>   as are many small, standalone third-party modules that don't belong to
>   a larger module collection.  (The root package isn't really a package,
>   since it doesn't have an \file{\_\_init\_\_.py} file.  But we have to
>   call it something.)
> 
> Confusing enough?  I thought so...
> 
>         Greg
> -- 
> Greg Ward - Unix nerd                                   gward@python.net
> http://starship.python.net/~gward/
> Beware of altruism.  It is based on self-deception, the root of all evil.
> 
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