[Python-Dev] Collection of typedefs for integral types

[Guido van Rossum]

> Why should we insert the Py_ prefix? We can just use autoconf to test for
> the types. If present, then we use them. If not, then we define our own
> replacements.
> 
> I see no particular reason to complicate it with Py_.

Defensive coding.

If the names are somehow present on the system but somehow not
detected by configure, Python.h would run into trouble when it tries
to define them when they are in fact already defined by some 3rd party
extensiom module that includes the necessary magic to reveal the
system definitinons for these names...

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://dinsdale.python.org/~guido/)