[Python-Dev] Making the __import__ hook available early...

[Thomas Heller]

> There has been some discussion on the import-sig about using
> the __import__ hook for practically all imports, even early 
> in the startup phase. This allows import hooks to completely take 
> over the import mechanism even for the Python standard lib.
> 
> Thomas Heller has provided a patch which I am currently checking.
> Basically all C level imports using PyImport_ImportModule()
> are then redirected to PyImport_Import() which uses the __import__
> hook if available.
> 
> My testing has so far not produced any strange effects. If anyone
> objects to this change, please speak up. Else, I'll check it in later
> today.

One remaining difference I noted between running 'rt.bat -d' with
the CVS version and the patched version is that the former
reported [56931 refs] and the latter [56923 refs].

Thomas