[Python-Dev] Replacement for print in Python 3.0

[Calvin Spealman]

On 9/9/05, Guido van Rossum <guido at python.org> wrote:
> While I laugh at the naive view of people who write things like
> "Interface equality and neutrality would be a good thing in the
> language" and seriously (? I didn't see a smiley) use this argument to
> plead for not making print() a built-in, I do think that avoiding the
> 'print' name would be a good thing if it could be done without ticking
> off the old-timers.

Oh, no! I've been misrepresented!

I can be a little unclear sometimes, and for that I apologize. What I
was saying is that there are essential to ends to the spectrum: you
either elevate text console IO to a status above other forms of
interface with the applications written in the language, or you don't
build any interface mechanisms into the lanuage at all. Python
currently is at the former end of that spectrum, and the current
discussions seem to be pushing towards the later. My disagreement is
more with consistancy than where it actually stands in that spectrum.
So, I'm saying if it has to be in the language directly, keep a
statement for it. If if really shouldn't be a statement, then make me
import it first.

Yes, I know that no one wants to import a module just to output text,
but I don't see how or why it is any different than importing GUI
modules.