[Python-Dev] [PEP 558] thinking through locals() semantics

[Greg Ewing]

Nick Coghlan wrote:
> So for me, getting rid of write backs via exec and "import *" was a
> matter of "Yay, we finally closed those unfortunate loopholes" rather
> than being any kind of regrettable necessity.

If that were the reasoning, the principled thing to do would be
to raise an exception if an eval or exec tries to write to a
local, rather than mostly ignore it.

In any case, I don't really agree with that philosophy. Python
is at its essence a dynamic language. Things like JIT and static
type analysis are only possible to the extent that you refrain
from using some of its dynamic features. Removing features
entirely just because they *can* interfere with these things goes
against the spirit of the language, IMO.

-- 
Greg