[Python-Dev] bytes / unicode

[Stephen J. Turnbull]

Guido van Rossum writes:

 > For example: how we can make the suite of functions used for URL
 > processing more polymorphic, so that each developer can choose for
 > herself how URLs need to be treated in her application.

While you have come down on the side of polymorphism (as opposed to
separate functions), I'm a little nervous about it.  Specifically,
Philip Eby expressed a desire for earlier type errors, while
polymorphism seems to ensure that you'll need to Look Before You Leap
to get early error detection.