python file API

[zipher]

For some time now, I've wanted to suggest a better abstraction for the <file> type in Python.  It currently uses an antiquated C-style interface for moving around in a file, with methods like tell() and seek().  But after attributes were introduced to Python, it seems it should be re-addressed.

Let file-type have an attribute .pos for position.   Now you can get rid of the seek() and tell() methods and manipulate the file pointer more easily with standard arithmetic operations. 

>>> file.pos = x0ae1      #move file pointer to an absolute address 
>>> file.pos +=1            #increment the file pointer one byte
>>> curr_pos = file.pos  #read current file pointer

You've now simplified the API by the removal of two obscure legacy methods and replaced them with a more basic one called "position".

Thoughts?

markj