[Python-ideas] Changing the name of __pycache__

[Ben Finney]

Steven D'Aprano <steve at pearwood.info> writes:

> Raymond Hettinger wrote:
>
> > If a consensus were to emerge, it would still be possible to change
> > the name from "__pycache__" to ".pycache".

+1 from me.

> -1.
>
> Please don't encourage the Unix anti-pattern of scattering invisible
> breadcrumbs all throughout your work-area.

The anti-pattern is the scattering of breadcrumbs. I agree with
discouraging that practice. But Python already breaks that, and PEP 3147
is an attempt at making the practice less messy.

The use of leading-dot names to make them invisible is a good feature.
If breadcrumbs must be scattered, at least keep them out of the way in
normal use.

> Besides, unless I'm misinformed, such dot files aren't invisible in
> Windows systems (or Mac?), so the fundamental assumption that changing
> the name will make it invisible will be wrong for many, perhaps most,
> users.

Then ‘.pycache’ is no harm on such systems, surely?

-- 
 \             “Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have |
  `\                                            others.” —Groucho Marx |
_o__)                                                                  |
Ben Finney