[Python-Dev] Re: [Python-checkins] python/dist/src/Lib types.py,1.26,1.27

[Kevin Jacobs]

On Thu, 23 May 2002, Skip Montanaro wrote:
> I'm not.  You were the one who brought up maybe deprecating it.   If it's
> not going to be deprecated I see no reason it should not provide names for
> all the builtin types.

Pointless semantic arguments aside, I agree with Skip.  I don't care how
many other ways we provide to spell types: until the types module is
depricated, I do not see why it should be intentionally broken by not
covering all builtin types (unless thus breaking the module is a slimy way
of encouraging its deprication, in which case I will object on procedural
grounds).

The current state of afairs is clearly un-Pythonic -- there IS more than one
way to do many things.  However, the types module is by far one of the more
benign places where this is happening.  e.g., concurrently having two
distinct class implementations isn't exactly Pythonic either.  So everyone
should realize that the 2.2 release have left a great number of things in
flux, especially in the type system.  Once the dust settles, we need to take
a hard look at where we are, where we need to go, and how we plan to get
there.  These steps MUST include wisdom from both theoretical AND empirical
study of the problems, or else we risk losing the essential characteristics
that made us want to write our programs in Python in the first place.

Please, lets keep our urges for microscopic language-lawyering in check for
now.  Everyone is making very clever arguments, and we're all really
impressed, but this argument has turned into a pointless wank-fest.  There
are bigger conceptual fish to fry and real bugs to fix.  So leave the silly
BooleanType declaration in types -- it hurts nobody and keeps our house in
good order until we decide if/when we want to tear that part down.

Best wishes and intravenous valium,
-Kevin

--
Kevin Jacobs
The OPAL Group - Enterprise Systems Architect
Voice: (216) 986-0710 x 19         E-mail: jacobs@theopalgroup.com
Fax:   (216) 986-0714              WWW:    http://www.theopalgroup.com