[Python-Dev] Re: Rewriting PEP4

[Terry Reedy]

""Martin v. Löwis"" <martin at v.loewis.de> wrote in message 
news:41B556FE.20504 at v.loewis.de...

As a (currently) casual user of Python, this is my view of the standard 
library dilemma and its solution:

1. It is too small: I may someday want to use a module not yet added.

2. It is too big: I cannot keep everything in mind at once and cannot 
remember, without referring back to the lib manual or pydev, which modules 
are currently or slated to become deprecated.

3. I do not wish to have other people's code broken,or books made obsolete, 
without sufficient reason (ie, the code is actively dangerous versus merely 
broken or superceded).

My preferred solution is to apply the 'out of sight, out of mind' 
principle.

1. Move obsolete modules to a separate directory (lib_old sounds fine) and 
put that directory in pythonpath.

When I ran Python (1.3) from a 20 meg disk, I would have preferred complete 
removal, but with 60+ gigs, the small extra space is no longer an issue. 
If  someone needs the space or wants to guarantee non-use of old modules, 
deleting lib_old is easy enough.

2. Remove the docs for obsolete modules from the main part of the current 
lib reference.  Sub-choices for legacy chapters are either complete removal 
or segregation into a separate document or apppendix to current one.

Terry J. Reedy