[Python-Dev] shal we redefine "module" and "package"?

[glyph at divmod.com]

On 10:53 pm, steve at holdenweb.com wrote:
>zooko wrote:

>>Unfortunately these answers aren't quite right.  A "package" is 
>>actually a directory containing an __init__.py file, and a 
>>distribution is actually what you think of when you say "package" -- a 
>>reusable package of Python code that you can, for example, get from 
>>the Python package index.

The fact that the Python "package" index is a place where you get 
"distributions" does seem a bit weird to me, but this is not necessarily 
a problem that can be fixed.  Ambiguity is part of human language. 
Perhaps suggest transliterations of these terms for talking about python 
in lojban? :)
>>1.  A "module" shall henceforth be the name for either a foo.py file 
>>(a single-file module), or a directory with an __init__.py in it (a 
>>directory module).

I have a less disruptive counterproposal.  How about just starting to 
refer to directories (or "folders", or zip entries) with '__init__.py' 
in them as "package modules"?  A package is-a module anyway.
>>2.  A "package" shall henceforth be the name of the thing that is 
>>currently called a "distribution".

I belive a multi-word term here would be similarly more memorable and 
precise.  A "package distribution" would include the more familiar term 
while still being specific, consistent with the old terminology, and 
correct.  Using a qualifying word is probably a good idea in this 
context anyway.  I usually say "debian package", "RPM", "MSI", or 
"tarball" unless I'm specifically talking about "packages for your 
platform", almost always in the phrase, "please do not use distutils to 
do a system install of Twisted, use the specific package for your 
platform".
>-1

I do, however, agree with Steve emphatically on your original proposal. 
Changing the terminology now will make billions upon billions of Python 
web pages, modules (c.f. 
twisted.python.modules.PythonModule.isPackage()) documents, and 
searchable message archives obsolete, not to mention that 90% of the 
community will probably ignore you and use the old terminology anyway, 
creating more confusion than it eliminates.