[Python-Dev] Consistency questions

[Michael Hudson]

"Gordon McMillan" <gmcm@hypernet.com> writes:

> Skip Montanaro wrote:
> 
> > 
> >     Thomas> I would suggest adding a second, optional argument to
> >     dir(), Thomas> 'recurse' or such, to add that behaviour. I
> >     think I can add that Thomas> code to dir() if it's deemed a
> >     good idea ;) Turning it on by Thomas> default would probably
> >     break too much code.
> > 
> > I don't think so.  I suspect most people use dir() interactively
> > to see what attributes an object supports and would appreciate
> > the improved functionality.  Besides, we are talking 2.0 here. 
> > Nothing wrong with a little breakage... ;-)
> 
> In the std lib:
>   cmd.py (already looks in __class__ and __bases__),  
>   rlcompleter (doesn't), 

Yes it does! (at least in CVS; that was my first patch to Python...)

>   rexec (only invoked on modules?).
> 
> It seems a gratuitous breakage, since it's additional behavior, 
> not fixed behavior.

Gentle agreement.

Cheers,
M.

-- 
  After a heavy night, I travelled on, my face toward home - the comma
  being by no means guaranteed.           -- paraphrased from cam.misc