[Python-Dev] PEP 414 - Unicode Literals for Python 3

[R. David Murray]

On Mon, 27 Feb 2012 09:05:54 -0800, Ethan Furman <ethan at stoneleaf.us> wrote:
> Martin v. Löwis wrote:
> > Am 26.02.2012 07:06, schrieb Nick Coghlan:
> >> On Sun, Feb 26, 2012 at 1:13 PM, Guido van Rossum <guido at python.org> wrote:
> >>> A small quibble: I'd like to see a benchmark of a 'u' function implemented in C.
> >> Even if it was quite fast, I don't think such a function would bring
> >> the same benefits as restoring support for u'' literals.
> > 
> > You claim that, but your argument doesn't actually support that claim
> > (or I fail to see the argument).
> 
> Python 2.6 code:
>     this = u'that'
> 
> Python 3.3 code:
>     this = u('that')
> 
> Not source compatible, not elegant.  (Even though 2to3 could make this 
> fix, it's still kinda ugly.)

Eh?  The 2.6 version would also be u('that').  That's the whole point
of the idiom.  You'll need a better counter argument than that.

--David