[Python-ideas] Proposal: Moratorium on Python language changes

[Tim Peters]

[Guido]
>>> I propose a moratorium on language changes. This would be a period of
>>> several years during which no changes to Python's grammar or language
>>> semantics will be accepted.

[Tim]
>> Eh.  I'll be a solid +1 on this /if/ you use your time machine to
>> begin the moratorium right after the "with" statement was introduced.
>> The rationale you gave applied as much then as it does now -- and if
>> you do this, then we won't need to discuss it now, since it will
>> already have been done.

[Guido]
> Well, my intention is for it to begin right after 3.1 was released.

Well, I believe that /was/ your intention.


> While the time machine can do stuff with SVN or Hg branches, it's not
> powerful enough to mess with code already released.

LOL -- say that often enough, and the newbies might even believe it <0.6 wink>.


> Though honestly I don't recall exactly what was added between the with
> statement and the 3.1 release apart from 'nonlocal'.

Excellent!  My plan worked, then.  I looked, and, e.g., both the
switch statement and anonymous inline meta-decorators no longer exist
in current Pythons.  I can live with nonlocal -- its continued
existence was probably just due to a local leak in the time machine's
rear Tesla coils.  They've always been a bit flaky.


>> If you won't use your time machine, fine, +0.

> Ah, you've moved from fractional winks to fractional votes. A nice upgrade. :-)

I have no idea what you're talking about.

the-more-things-change-the-more-i-don't-ly y'rs  - tim