[Web-SIG] OT: dotted names (Was: Re: A Python Web Application Package and Format)

[P.J. Eby]

At 02:02 PM 4/15/2011 -0400, Jim Fulton wrote:
>On Fri, Apr 15, 2011 at 1:32 PM, Éric Araujo <merwok at netwok.org> wrote:
> > As an aside, I wonder why people use dot+colon notation instead of just
> > dots to reference callables.  In distutils2 for example we resolve
> > dotted names to find command classes, command hooks and compilers.  So
> > what's the benefit, marginally easier parsing?
>
>An opportunity of using a colon is that it allows::
>
>    dotted.module.name:expression
>
>where expression may be more than just a name::
>
>
>   foo.bar:Bar()


The reason setuptools uses ':' is that it allows you to unambiguously 
reference object attributes, e.g.:

    some.module:SomeClass.some_method_or_attribute

(It doesn't allow expressions, just dotted "paths".)