[Python-Dev] Optional arguments for str.encode /.decode

[Aahz]

On Fri, Nov 07, 2003, Raymond Hettinger wrote:
> 
> For example, zlib_codec.py can then express its encoding function as:
> 
> def zlib_encode(input,errors='strict', **kwds):
>     assert errors == 'strict'
>     if 'level' in kwds:
>         output = zlib.compress(input, kwds['level'])
>     else:
>         output = zlib.compress(input)
>     return (output, len(input))
> 
> The user can then have access to zlib's optional compression level
> argument:
> 
> >>> 'which witch has which witches wristwatch'.encode('zlib', level=9)

Change this to

    def zlib_encode(input,errors='strict', opts=None):
        if opts:
            if 'level' in opts:
                ...

>>> 'which witch has which witches wristwatch'.encode('zlib', {'level':9})

and I'm +1.  Otherwise I'm somewhere around -0; I agree with Barry about
possible pollution.  This change is a small inconvenience for greater
decoupling.  opts could be an instance instead, but I think a straight
dict probably makes the most sense.
-- 
Aahz (aahz at pythoncraft.com)           <*>         http://www.pythoncraft.com/

"It is easier to optimize correct code than to correct optimized code."
--Bill Harlan