[Python-Dev] Filename as byte string in python 2.6 or 3.0?

["Martin v. Löwis"]

> I can't agree here. File handling is a fundamental operation and I
> would expect something like:
> 
>>>> for fname in os.listdir('.'):
> ...       if os.path.isfile(fname):
> ...          file(fname)
> 
> to work for all files.

I agree. However, if it fails: is the bug of the Python, or of the
system administrator maintaining it?

> To have to know to put in special handling for
> certain corner case filenames or worse to not be able to open some
> files at all would be a serious loss. It would also complicate
> migrating code correctly to 3.0.

I agree completely. Unfortunately, all proposed solutions *do* require
special handling for certain corner cases.

> Regardless of whose fault the underlying issue is, someone has to deal
> with the problem and if core Python doesn't, each developer who
> encounters the problem will have to come up with his/her own solution.

This is quite in the abstract. Can you be more specific?

Regards,
Martin