Modules for inclusion in standard library?

[Scott David Daniels]

Daniel Dittmar wrote:
> Rocco Moretti wrote:
>>>> Except that (please correct me if I'm wrong) there is somewhat of a
>>>> policy for not including interface code for third party programs which
>>>> are not part of the operating system. (I.e. the modules in the
>>>> standard libary should all be usable for anyone with a default OS +
>>>> Python install.)
> 
> ....
> 
> There seems to be a great reluctance by the Python developers to add 
> modules of the expat kind, as this means responsibilities for additional 
> source modules. There's also the problem with incompatible licenses, 
> integrating a second configure, deciding when to update to the latest 
> version of the library etc.

If you haven't noticed, the Python code has a substantial body of unit
tests.  Arranging the tests to be easily runnable for all developers
is going to be tough for "third party programs."  Making the interfaces
work for differing versions of the 3PPs as the third parties themselves
change their interfaces (see fun with Tcl/Tk versions for example), and
building testbeds to test to all of those differing versions, would
cause a nightmare that would make a knight of Ni scream.

--Scott David Daniels
Scott.Daniels at Acm.Org