[Python-Dev] Type-converting functions, esp. unicode() vs. unistr()

[Thomas Wouters]

On Thu, Jan 18, 2001 at 02:14:19AM -0800, Ka-Ping Yee wrote:

> Wow!!  __complex__ can produce a segfault!

>     >>> complex
>     <built-in function complex>
>     >>> class Foo:
>     ...   def __complex__(self): return 3
>     ... 
>     >>> Foo()
>     <__main__.Foo instance at 0x81e8684>
>     >>> f = _
>     >>> complex(f)
>     Segmentation fault (core dumped)

> This happens because builtin_complex first retrieves and saves
> the PyNumberMethods of the argument (in this case, from the
> instance), then tries to call __complex__ (in this case, returning 3),
> and THEN coerces the result using nbr->nb_float if the result is
> not complex!  (This calls the instance's nb_float method on the
> integer object 3!!)

I've noticed that lurking bug in the coercion code when I added augmented
assignment, though I don't recall whether I fixed it then, nor do I know if
that part's been "touched" by the recent coercion changes. If none of the
coercion champions speak up, I'll look at this sometime this weekend.

-- 
Thomas Wouters <thomas@xs4all.net>

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