[Python-Dev] Patch to avoid conflict with older versions of Python.

[Mark Hammond]

Hi all,
	I'd like some feedback on a patch assigned to me.  It is designed to
prevent Python extensions built for an earlier version of Python from
crashing the new version.

I haven't actually tested the patch, but I am sure it works as advertised
(who is db31 anyway?).

My question relates more to the "style" - the patch locates the new .pyd's
address in memory, and parses through the MS PE/COFF format, locating the
import table.  If then scans the import table looking for Pythonxx.dll, and
compares any found entries with the current version.

Quite clever - a definite plus is that is should work for all old and
future versions (of Python - dunno about Windows ;-) - but do we want this
sort of code in Python?  Is this sort of hack, however clever, going to
some back and bite us?

Second related question:  if people like it, is this feature something we
can squeeze in for 2.0?

If there are no objections to any of this, I am happy to test it and check
it in - but am not confident of doing so without some feedback.

Thanks,

Mark.