interactive shell -- reload definitions?

[malv]

This is a question that comes up almost continuously for at least six
years now.
For Python users having to deal with major real-life applications, this
may make them think twice about the future suitability of Python as a
competitive development tool.
Ruby is featuring a software modify and go feature. Lisp is, even VB
does. In the design of Smalltalk this used to be one of the major
considerations.

Plenty of posts will turn up doing a search on "reload". The following
references summarize some of these problems:
http://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.python/browse_frm/thread/efba62d227ba4794/41f57f366affd057?q=Hung+Jung+Lu+reload&rnum=2#41f57f366affd057
http://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.python/browse_frm/thread/efba62d227ba4794/41f57f366affd057?q=Hung+Jung+Lu+reload&rnum=2#41f57f366affd057

In fact, doing a reload usually will not accomplish what one is looking
for. Class instances should also be upgraded on reload(), preferably
automatically. This can be accomplished as shown by Michael Hudson in:
http://aspn.activestate.com/ASPN/Cookbook/Python/Recipe/160164
Variants on this theme exist which seem to be broken.

Given the persistent push of Ruby, I would strongly recommend that a
workable integrated solution will be found for Reload & Go in Python,
taking priority on many way out features of rather low practicality for
many  programmers.