[Python-Dev] Dropping bytes "support" in json

[Stephen J. Turnbull]

Greg Ewing writes:

 > The reason you use a text format in the first place is that
 > you have some way of transmitting text, and you want to
 > send something that isn't text. In that situation, the
 > encoding is already determined by whatever means you're
 > using to send the text.

Determined, yes, but all too often in a nondeterministic way.  That's
precisely the problem that the spec is trying to avert.  People often
schlep "text" around as if that were well-defined, forcing receivers
to guess what is meant.  Having a spec isn't going to stop them, but
at least you can lash them with a wet noodle.

The specification of at least the abstract character repertoire and
coded character set also allows implementers like Python to proceed
confidently with their usual internal encoding.