[Python-Dev] unicode hell/mixing str and unicode as dictionary keys

[Michael Foord]

David Hopwood wrote:[snip..]
>
>   
>>> we should, of course, continue to use the one we always used (for
>>> "ascii", there is no difference between the two).
>>>       
>> +1
>>
>> This seems the most (only ?) logical solution.
>>     
>
> No; always considering Unicode and non-ASCII byte strings to be distinct
> is just as logical.
>   
Except there has been an implicit promise in Python for years now that 
ascii byte-strings will compare equally to the unicode equivalent: lots 
of code assumes this. Breaking this is fine in principle - but for Py3K 
not Py 2.x.

That means Martin's solution is the best for the current problem. (IMHO 
of course...)

Michael
http://www.voidspace.org.uk/python/index.shtml