[Python-Dev] %b format?

[Tim Peters]

[Eric S. Raymond]
> Is the right answer to add the convert-to-base slot and deprecate the
> other two?

That would fix "the other" lump here in Python, that e.g.

>>> int("111", 3)
13
>>>

has no inverse.  string->int is happy with any base in 2..36 inclusive, but
int->string is spelled via 3 different builtins covering only 3 of those
bases.

It would be more *expedient* to add "just" a __bin__/nb_bin method + a way
to spell binary int literals + a %b format + a bin() builtin.

On the fifth hand, I doubt anyone would want to add new % format codes for
bases {2..36} - {2, 8, 10, 16}.

So it will remain lumpy no matter what.  I look forward to the PEP <wink>.