[Python-Dev] PEP 277 (unicode filenames): please review

[Jack Jansen]

On maandag, augustus 12, 2002, at 01:48 , Martin v. L=F6wis wrote:

> http://www.python.org/peps/pep-0277.html
>
> The PEP describes a Windows-only change to Unicode in file names: On
> Windows NT/2k/XP, Python would allow arbitrary Unicode strings as file
> names and pass them to the OS, instead of converting them to CP_ACP
> first. This applies to open() and all os functions that accept
> filenames.
>
> In addition, os.list() would return Unicode filenames if the argument
> is Unicode.

This is the bit I still don't like (at least, if I'm not=20
mistaken I commented on it a while ago too). A routine could be=20
doing an os.list() expecting strings, but suddenly someone=20
passes it a unicode directoryname and the return value would=20
change.

I would much prefer an optional encoding argument whereby you=20
give the encoding in which you want the return value. Default=20
would be the local filesystem encoding. If you pass unicode you=20
will get direct unicode on XP/2K, and a converted string on=20
other platforms (but always unicode).

Oh yes, the same reasoning would hold for readlink(), getcwd()=20
and any other call that returns filenames.
--
- Jack Jansen        <Jack.Jansen@oratrix.com>       =20
http://www.cwi.nl/~jack -
- If I can't dance I don't want to be part of your revolution --=20
Emma Goldman -