case-sensitivity compromise proposal

[Steven D. Arnold]

How about a pragma to indicate whether a given Python module was 
case-insensitive?  Since Python is case-sensitive now, and to assist with 
backward compatibility, I propose that case-sensitivity should be the 
default.  Furthermore, we can arrange some way that a user can permanently 
turn on case-insensitivity (or case-sensitivity) as the default for them, 
in which case only programs with the opposite pragma would behave in the 
non-default way.

The downside is that it requires users to remember to set a preference or 
use a pragma, but I see that as a minor issue.  From the perspective of a 
student, most likely the instructor will set the appropriate preference on 
all classroom workstations.  On the other hand, the apparently numerous 
programmers that prefer case-sensitivity can have it their way, too.


steve

--
Steven D. Arnold          Que quiero sera           stevena at permanent.cc
"We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not
because they are easy, but because they are hard."    -- John F. Kennedy