[Catalog-sig] Request: Interface to index of package-metadata

["Martin v. Löwis"]

> I did some research on which interfaces are available to retrieve
> data from the index. The two most promising interfaces are the
> XML-RPCs and http://pypi.python.org/simple. But both lack a compact
> index (information that I can download with only one request) that
> contains at least the package names and the available versions.

I can't quite understand where the need for a *single* request comes
from. The information is surely available by use of multiple requests.

> Would it be possibe to extend the existing interfaces so that they
> fit this needs?
> 
> I'll gladly help working on those new interfaces if help is wanted. 
> Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Indeed, such an interface could only become reality by means of
somebody contributing it. However, before you start doing so:
have you considered alternatives, such as using multiple requests,
along with incremental updates?

If the interface were available, how would you use it? (e.g. how
often, and what for)

Regards,
Martin