[Python-Dev] GSoC: Replace MS Windows Console with Unicode UI

[Terry Reedy]

One of the disappointments of CPython 3.0 on Windows is that the switch 
to unicode for text (str), coupled with the continued use of a 
unicode-oblivious (obtuse) user interface (MS 'Command Prompt'), means 
that print can no longer print all str strings, or all legal Python code 
(as in a traceback).

Different people have tried and failed fix this bug by fiddling with 
'Command Prompt' configeration.  This would make a useful summer 
project, though I don't know if it would involve enough coding.  Call 
the project something like 3.0 Unicode UI Improvement.

I see two possibilities.

1) Find an C-coded open-source C-P replacement whose author will license 
to PSF and, as needed, modify or integrate it with CPython.

2) IDLE does much better but its support seems to still be imcomplete. 
Upgrade tk/tkinter/IDLE (wherever the problems lie) and make IDLE's 
shell an alternate UI.

If Windows (or other OSes) (to be investigated) does not reliably come 
with a full unicode font (at least current BMP), is there a public 
domain or open license font that we can include?

Terry Jan Reedy