[Python-Dev] reload() et al. (Re: [Import-sig] Re: Proposal for a modified import mechanism.)

[Thomas Heller]

From: "Just van Rossum" <just@letterror.com>
> M.-A. Lemburg wrote:
> 
> > While it seems like a nice idea to update code which is already in
> > use, I think that this leads down the wrong track. Sooner or
> > later you'll end up with a complete mess in memory ;-) And depending
> > on what code you exchange, this can cause serious problems: e.g.
> > pickled data could become unusable, parts of the system would 
> > suddenly stop working because of e.g. a name change in one of the APIs,
> > etc.
> 
> I don't see "enhanced reloading" as a way to modify long running processes, but
> a way to shorten the development cycle.

That's exactly what I had in mind.

More and more I hear complaints from people, that even a C++ program
can be changed while running in the debugger (under certain circumstances),
so why not Python?

Thomas