int() shortcoming?

[Padraig Brady]

Matthew Knepley wrote:
>        Is there a reason I should have to specify the base for a string
> conversion using int() when it is already clear from the form? For instance:
> 
>>>>oct(15)
>>>
> '017'
> 
>>>>int('017')
>>>
> 17
> 
>>>>int('017', 8)
>>>
> 15
> 
> and hexidecimal actually generates an error.

I agree with you somewhat.
I think int() be default should behave like strtol(nptr, (char **)NULL, 0)
rather than strtol(nptr, (char **)NULL, 10);
However this is not backwards compatible.
I.E. int('017') would give a different answer.

see also:
http://tardis.redbrick.dcu.ie/391/groups.google.com

Pádraig.