[Python-Dev] PEP 273: Import Modules from Zip Archives

Skip Montanaro skip@pobox.com (Skip Montanaro)
Wed, 31 Oct 2001 15:11:12 -0600


    >> Requirement: A ZIP archive be usable any version of Python that
    >> supports ZIP-based imports.

    Gordon> Hmm. You want .pyc's with every known magic number (there goes
    Gordon> disk space)? Or just source and throw away the .pyc?  Or maybe
    Gordon> insert into the zip file? Either way, there goes speed.

Can't zip files be treated conceptually as directories?  If I import a
py-based module from a zip archive I see no particular reason the
byte-compiled file can't be added to the archive (conceptually, written to
the directory), speeding up the import the next time.  Is this not possible?

Skip