[Python-Dev] [Python-3000] New proposition for Python3 bytes filename issue

["Martin v. Löwis"]

> Yes! If there is a byte-string access method for Windows, pretty please
> make it decode from UTF-8 internally and call the Unicode version of the
> Windows APIs. The non-unicode windows APIs are pretty much just broken
> -- Ideally, Python should never be calling those.

I don't think we will manage to release Python 3.0 this year if that
change is to be implemented. And then, I don't think the release manager
will agree to such a delay.

I disagree that the ANSI APIs are broken. For most users (and by that,
I mean much more than 99% of the world population with access to
Windows computers), they work just fine. You have to deliberately try
to break them, or work in an environment were you speak multiple
languages (with conflicting scripts) simultaneously. Practicality
beats purity, and I applaud Microsoft for such a foresighted design
(they are guilty for bad designs in other places, but this one really
gives a good tradeoff of all issues, all things considered).

Regards,
Martin