[Python-Dev] float atime/mtime/ctime - a bad idea?

[Barry A. Warsaw]

>>>>> "GvR" == Guido van Rossum <guido@python.org> writes:

    GvR> In this particular case, I think having a global flag should
    GvR> be good enough.  We can easily rig the standard library not
    GvR> to depend on its value.  It should be settable by calling a
    GvR> function, e.g.

    GvR>   os.stat_times(int)

    GvR> or

    GvR>   os.stat_times(float)

    GvR> If you think passing the actual type objects is too cute, we
    GvR> can call it stat_float_times() and pass a bool.

So then why not just make this an optional argument flag on the
os.stat() call itself?  That way you could migrate some code at a
different rate than other code (a global flag might be fine for your
application, but break some 3rd party library you're using).

-Barry