[Python-Dev] Path object design

[Steve Holden]

Greg Ewing wrote:
> Mike Orr wrote:
> 
> 
>>>* This is confusing as heck:
>>>  >>> os.path.join("hello", "/world")
>>>  '/world'
> 
> 
> It's only confusing if you're not thinking of
> pathnames as abstract entities.
> 
> There's a reason for this behaviour -- it's
> so you can do things like
> 
>    full_path = os.path.join(default_dir, filename_from_user)
> 
> where filename_from_user can be either a relative
> or absolute path at his discretion.
> 
> In other words, os.path.join doesn't just mean "join
> these two paths together", it means "interpret the
> second path in the context of the first".
> 
> Having said that, I can see there could be an
> element of confusion in calling it "join".
> 
Good point. "relativise" might be appropriate, though something shorter 
would be better.

regards
  Steve
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