[Python-ideas] PEP for executing a module in a package containing relative imports

[Jim Jewett]

On 4/19/07, Brett Cannon <brett at python.org> wrote:

> ...  By leaving the ``__name__`` attribute in a module alone and
> setting a module attribute named ``__main__`` to a true value for the
> main module (and thus false in all others) ...

Part of me says that you are already proposing the right answer, as
these alternatives are just a little too hackish.  Still, they are
good enough that they should be listed in the PEP, even if only as
rejected alternatives.

(1)  You could add a builtin __main__ that is false.  The real main
module would mask it, but no other code would need to change.

Con:  Another builtin, and this one wouldn't even make sense as an
independent object.

(2)  You could special-case the import to use __file__ instead of
__name__ when __name__ == "__main__"

Con:  may be more fragile.

(3)  You could set __name__ to (an instance of) a funky string
subclass that overrides __eq__.

Con:  may be hard to find exactly the *right* behavior.  Examples:
What should str(name) do?  Maybe __main__ should be the primary value,
and split should be overridden?

-jJ