[Python-Dev] Coercion and comparison of numbers

[Neil Schemenauer]

[MAL]
> I just received a bug report for mx.Number which revealed a
> probelm with the comparison code in Python 2.1. Looking at
> the code it seems that one of my original coercion patches
> did not make it into the core. I added a new API PyNumber_Compare()
> knows about the new coercion mechanism and should be called for
> numbers instead of trying coercion in PyObject_Compare().

I remember the API.  I don't remember what happened to it.  Guido
might have dropped it or I might have taken it out thinking the
comparison issues would be sorted out by Guido.

Why is a new API needed?  Why can't PyObject_Compare() do the
right thing (ie. not coerce new style numbers)?

  Neil