[Python-Dev] Python 3.0 list of goals

[Guido van Rossum]

> A.M. Kuchling wrote:
> 
> > The thread about bytes() is about a Python 3.0 feature.  Guido's
> > presentations have mentioned various changes he'd like to make in 3.0,
> > but there's no master list of things that would change.  
> > 
> > I think it would be useful to have such a list, because it would focus
> > our language development effort on ones that are steps to 3.0, and
> > maybe people can invent ways to smooth the transition.  I've started a
> > list in the Wiki at http://www.python.org/moin/Python3.0 , but should
> > it be a PEP?  (PEP 3000, perhaps?)

Good idea to start collecting all this.  I'm currently too busy to
spend a lot of time thinking about all this, but eventually I will be
back and then it would be nice to find a list of things I said in the
past. :-)

> I say a PEP.  While it can say that these features are just 
> possibilities, I would rather have a controlled place to list this stuff 
> so it is a little more official than having someone randomly come in and 
> start throwing in everything they wished Python 3.0 will have.

Right, but the Wiki is a good start while you consider a PEP.

> When it is decided where all of this info will end up I will go through 
> the python-dev Summaries and see if I can find anything there (tried to 
> make it a habit to doc stuff that Guido said would be a Python 3.0 feature.
> 
> There is also another wiki page on Python 3.0 at 
> http://www.python.org/cgi-bin/moinmoin/PythonThreeDotOh .

Hrm.  That is mostly Mike McLay's wish list; best to ignore it.

> I also have an initial list going.  At PyCON Michael McLay and I
> discussed getting a PEP written in hopes of getting grant funding
> from outside sources (read: not the PSF) to implement some of the
> features.  And we figured a PEP was probably as official as we could
> get short of a specific grant proposal and thus be more acceptable
> to people considering providing funds.

A PEP along the lines of Mike's Wiki page doesn't really have my
support.  It's a long story that I'll have to save for another time,
but basically it seems to me that Mike's agenda is driven by the need
of a very specific subcommunity.  That's fine, but let's be clear
about what it is -- it's not my idea for Python 3000.

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)