[Python-ideas] Better error messages for missing optional stdlib packages
Marcus Harnisch
mh-python at online.de
Wed Oct 3 16:29:45 EDT 2018
Hi all
When trying to import lzma on one of my machines, I was suprised to get
a normal import error like for any other module. According to the docs
lzma has been part of stdlib since 3.3. Further digging revealed that
the error is due to the fact that xz wasn't compiled in when building
Python. Since I suspect that there are other optional stdlib modules,
this made me think whether the message in those cases should look a
little more polished. Perhaps installing a stub module that prints some
informative text before raising the relevant exception or similar.
Also, maybe add a little note in the docs, stating that despite being
part of stdlib this module might not be available on all systems.
Thanks,
Marcus
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