[Python-Dev] Changing string constants to byte arrays in Py3k

[Steve Holden]

Steven Bethard wrote:
> On 5/5/07, M.-A. Lemburg <mal at egenix.com> wrote:
>> On 2007-05-04 19:51, Guido van Rossum wrote:
>>> [-python-dev]
>>>
>>> On 5/4/07, Fred L. Drake, Jr. <fdrake at acm.org> wrote:
>>>> On Friday 04 May 2007, M.-A. Lemburg wrote:
>>>>  > I also suggest making all bytes literals immutable to avoid running
>>>>  > into any issues like the above.
>>>>
>>>> +1 from me.
>>> Rather than adding immutability to bytes objects (which has big
>>> implementation and type checking implications), consider using
>>> buffer(b"123") as an immutable bytes literal. You can freely
>>> concatenate and compare buffer objects with bytes objects.
>> I like Georg's idea of having an immutable bytes subclass.
>> b"abc" could then be a shortcut constructor for this subclass.
>>
>> In general, I don't think it's a good idea to have literals
>> turn into mutable objects, since literals are normally perceived
>> as being constant.
> 
> Does that mean you want list literals to be immutable too?
> 
>     lst = ['a', 'b', 'c']
>     lst.append('d') # raises an error?
> 
> STeVe

I think the point is rather that changes to the list linked by lst after 
the initial assignment shouldn't result in the assignemtn of a different 
value to lst if the statement is executed again (as  part of a function 
body or in a loop, for example).

regards
  Steve
-- 
Steve Holden        +1 571 484 6266   +1 800 494 3119
Holden Web LLC/Ltd           http://www.holdenweb.com
Skype: holdenweb      http://del.icio.us/steve.holden
------------------ Asciimercial ---------------------
Get on the web: Blog, lens and tag your way to fame!!
holdenweb.blogspot.com        squidoo.com/pythonology
tagged items:         del.icio.us/steve.holden/python
All these services currently offer free registration!
-------------- Thank You for Reading ----------------