[Python-Dev] Re: [Python-checkins] CVS: python/dist/src/Lib urllib.py,1.96,1.97

[Guido van Rossum]

> Moves some test code into the scope of if __name__ == '__main__', where it
> won't get loaded when we're using the classes in this module.

Eric,

I believe you are mistaken, or at least expressing yourself unclearly
in the checkin comment.  While the test function *objects* indeed
aren't created in your new version, it doesn't actually save any time
when loading the module: all the code in a module is parsed, or all
the bytecode is unmarshalled, regardless of whether it is executed.
All you save in performance is a LOAD_CONST, a MAKE_FUNCTION, and a
STORE_NAME -- all of which don't really do any work.

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