[Import-sig] Re: [Python-Dev] Proposal for a modified import mechanism.

[Gordon McMillan]

Prabhu wrote:

> >>>>> "GMcM" == Gordon McMillan <gmcm@hypernet.com> writes:
> 
>     GMcM> [Prabhu works on knee.py]
> 
>     >> it also fixes a bug where the parent package is an
>     extension >> module.
> 
>     GMcM> Python provides no support for an extension module
>     being a GMcM> package parent module. More precisely, I think
>     the fact that GMcM> an extension module can be made to behave
>     like a package GMcM> parent module is an accident. 

[snip]

> I guess this was unclear.  My addition is extremely simple and
> does not do anything new.  Here is an illustration

And I wasn't clear. I wasn't complaining about your 
implementation. I was complaining that the rules of import are 
ill-specified. There are many import hacks in use today that 
rely on undocumented features, some of which are accidental.

When package support was introduced, no one knew how 
packages would end up being used. I would hate to see 
Python stuck supporting some of this crap under the guise of 
"backwards compatibility".

- Gordon