[XML-SIG] Python 1.6 XML APIs

[Paul Prescod]

Greg Stein wrote:
> 
> ...
>
> qp_xml is solid (it is used by my davlib module and a number of other people
> have been using it for stuff), but there are some outstanding optimizations
> on deck (from Bjorn Pettersen). I'm firefighting in Apache-land right now
> :-), so I haven't applied and tested the optimizations yet.

My main issue is the cascading dependencies: PyExpat name changes,
namespace handling should be moved into the core SAX library, we should
standardize the parse APIs and so forth.

> Oh: and I might suggest a name change before inclusion into Python proper :-)

Agreed. Unless it stood for "quick Python objects" or "quick primitive
objects".

> Regarding the larger question: punt on including SAX in 1.6. Why? The only
> parser is pyexpat (presuming xmllib is deprecated). The utility of SAX is
> therefore quite minor... what else will you swap in there? Point people at
> the XML distro if they want it.

What you'll swap in is a validating parser (*from* the XML distro), or
the Python 1.7 or 1.8 parser, which might be Xerces, or a more
namespace-friendly version of Expat. Namespace-forward compatibility is
an important issue.

There is basically no cost to supporting SAX other than breaking
existing PyExpat code which you seem not to be worried about.

-- 
 Paul Prescod  - ISOGEN Consulting Engineer speaking for himself
Floggings will continue until morale improves.