Why has 'dir()' changed in Python 2.2?

[Hans Nowak]

"Dr. David Mertz" wrote:
> 
> I just noticed a change in Python 2.2... that turns out to break my
> [xml_pickle] module.  It shouldn't be hard to fix (although I *do* have
> a decision to ponder about the best fix)... but I mostly wonder what the
> thoughts behind the change were (it seems like it will break a lot of
> code that is moderately introspective).

The descrinto document explains why:

  http://www.python.org/2.2/descrintro.html#introspection

"In classic Python, the method names of lists were available as 
the __methods__ attribute of list objects, with the same effect 
as using the built-in dir() function. [...] Under the new proposal, 
the __methods__ attribute no longer exists. [...] Instead, you can 
get the same information from the dir() function, which gives more 
information."

Apparently, it was expected that not much code would break.
Personally, I only use dir() in interactive sessions, to quickly
inspect a module or (other) object. For introspection in
programs, I usually inspect the object's __dict__.

-- 
Hans (base64.decodestring('d3VybXlAZWFydGhsaW5rLm5ldA==')) 
# decode for email address ;-)
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