[Python-ideas] collections.abc.Stream

[Steven D'Aprano]

On Sat, Jun 18, 2016 at 11:16:51AM +0000, Bar Harel wrote:
> Hmm... If the term "file-like object" is so ambiguous, why does the STL use
> it so much?

I don't know. What is the STL and how does it relate to Python?

That's a rhetorical question. I know that the STL is C++'s Standard 
Template Library, which has very little to do with Python. Their use of 
the term "file-like object" is not necessarily identical to Python's use 
of it.


> Perhaps a new term should be introduced clearly stating the required
> methods.

But that's the whole point -- there is no one standard set of required 
methods. Some uses of a "file-like object" just require a read() or 
write() method. Some might require a close() method, or a flush(), 
or both. Some might need seek() and/or tell(). There's very little point 
in insisting on the full interface provided by open(...) if all you need 
is to call the write() method.



-- 
Steve