inconsistent value from __builtins__

[Michael Hohn]

Hi,
using the file builtin_check.py  with content

# Module builtin_check 
# Inconstency in the binding of __builtins__

def get_binding(name):
    return locals()[name]

def get_global_binding(name):
    return globals()[name]

and running 

import builtin_check
print type(builtin_check.get_global_binding('__builtins__'))
print type(__builtins__)

in the toplevel, I get the following results:

Python 2.2.3 (#2, Jun 16 2004, 21:14:24) 
[GCC 3.2.2 20030222 (Red Hat Linux 3.2.2-5)] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import builtin_check
>>> print type(builtin_check.get_global_binding('__builtins__'))
<type 'dict'>
>>> print type(__builtins__)
<type 'module'>


Python 2.3.3 (#1, May 10 2004, 11:29:59) 
[GCC 3.2.2 20030222 (Red Hat Linux 3.2.2-5)] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import builtin_check
>>> print type(builtin_check.get_global_binding('__builtins__'))
<type 'dict'>
>>> print type(__builtins__)
<type 'module'>

Is this difference in return value intentional?


Thanks, 
    Michael