[Python-Dev] deleting setdefaultencoding iin site.py is evil

[Chris Withers]

Martin v. Löwis wrote:
>>> In retrospect, it should have been called sys._setdefaultencoding().
>>> That sends an extra signal that it's not meant for general use.
>> Crazy idea: how about mutating it into sys._setdefaultencoding rather
>> than deleting it?
> 
> Please don't post crazy ideas unless you really mean them.
> 
> This specific crazy idea must be rejected; it would break backwards
> compatibility, for no good reason.

How is it breaking backwards compatibility?

- If people were somehow relying on sys.setdefaultencoding to be 
deleted, that's fine, it's still gone

- If people were somehow relying on sys not having an attribute called 
_setdefaultencoding, or were relying on stuffing an attribute into sys 
called _setdefaultencoding then... well... that seems pretty unlikely ;-)

Chris

-- 
Simplistix - Content Management, Batch Processing & Python Consulting
            - http://www.simplistix.co.uk