[Python-Dev] conceptual clarity

[David Harrison]

2009/9/18 Peter Moody <peter at hda3.com>:
> On Thu, Sep 17, 2009 at 6:17 PM, Andrew McNamara
> <andrewm at object-craft.com.au> wrote:
>>>off to patch the pep and implement some of the non controversial changes.
>>
>> It might be a good idea to add some use-cases to the PEP.
>
> There are several use-cases in the PEP already.
>
> The problem is, for every use-case where one can show that the
> existing implementation is confusing, I can come up with a use-case
> showing where the existing implementation makes more sense than
> anything proposed.
>
> Cheers,
> /peter

For any given use-case there is bound to be an opposing one, but the
goal is to satisfy the most common or relevant use-cases that we all
experience - can't please all the people all the time etc.

I think that alot of the confusion and disagreements surrounding the
API are due to the absence of use-cases in the PEP - we can all
probably agree an IP address module has intrinsic merit, but how we
expect to use it may vary significantly.  As a result the discussion
seems to be driven by the example implementation, instead of the by
the use-cases that make the module worthwhile being added - I would
normally think it would be the other way round.  Without a clear set
of expectations and use-cases, it would also be hard to propose an
alternate implementation.