[Python-Dev] PEP: Adding data-type objects to Python

[Jack Jansen]

Would it be possible to make the data-type objects subclassable, with  
the subclasses being able to override the equality test?
The range of data types that you've specified in the PEP are good  
enough for most general use, and probably for NumPy as well, but  
someone already came up with the example of image formats, which have  
their whole own range of data formats. I could throw in audio formats  
(bits per sample, excess-N or signed or ulaw samples, mono/stereo/5.1/ 
etc, order of the channels), and there's probably a whole slew of  
other areas that have their own sets of formats.

If the datatype objects are subclassable, modules could initially  
start by adding their own formats. So, the "jackaudio" and  
"jillaudio" modules would have distinct sets of formats. But then  
later on it should be fairly easy for them to recognize each others  
formats. So, jackaudio would recognize the jillaudio format "msdos  
linear pcm" as being identical to its own "16-bit excess-32768".

Hopefully eventually all audio module writers would get together and  
define a set of standard audio formats.
--
Jack Jansen, <Jack.Jansen at cwi.nl>, http://www.cwi.nl/~jack
If I can't dance I don't want to be part of your revolution -- Emma  
Goldman


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