[Python-Dev] Syntax suggestion for imports

[Barry Warsaw]

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On Jan 2, 2008, at 9:08 PM, Aahz wrote:

> On Wed, Jan 02, 2008, Raymond Hettinger wrote:
>>
>> The standard library, my personal code, third-party packages, and
>> my employer's code base are filled with examples of the following
>> pattern:
>>
>> try:
>>   import threading
>> except ImportError:
>>   import dummy_threading as threading
>>
>> How about a new, simpler syntax:
>>
>> * import threading or dummy_threading as threading
>
> My gut reaction is -0.  For starters, many of these should go away  
> with
> Python 3.0 (e.g. cStringIO).  Also, annoying as the try/except is, I
> think the fact that it signals the special import is helpful; your
> suggestion is too light-weight IMO.  If you could devise something  
> just
> a bit heavier, that would be much better.

I tend to agree.  The little bit of syntactic sugar doesn't really  
seem worth it.

- -Barry

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