[Python-Dev] os.access on Windows

[Brian Curtin]

On Fri, May 20, 2011 at 03:38, Tim Golden <Tim.Golden at cbsoutdoor.co.uk>wrote:

> There's a thread on python-list at the moment:
>
>  http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-list/2011-May/1272505.html
>
> which is discussing the validity of os.access results on
> Windows. Now we've been here before: I raised issue2528
> for a previous enquiry some years ago and proffered a patch
> which uses the AccessCheck API to perform the equivalent check,
> but didn't follow through.
>
> Someone on the new thread is suggesting -- validly -- that the
> docs should highlight the limitations of this call on Windows.
> But the docs for that call are already fairly involved:
>
>  http://docs.python.org/library/os.html#os.access
>
> We seem to have a few options in increasing order of difficulty:
>
> * Do nothing - inform the occasional enquirer of the situation and
>  leave it at that.
>
> * Update the docs to add something which describes what the function
>  actually does on the Windows platform. (Whether or not we change any
> code).
>

I think we should tread lightly in the documentation area. We already have
two note boxes, and adding a third probably scares everyone away. Maybe
there should be a bullet list of considerations to be made when using
os.access?

* Apply the patch in issue2528 to 3.3 and maybe 2.7
>

I'd vote in favor of this. If we can be a bit smarter in determining
os.access results, let's do it.

I haven't reviewed the patch other than 1 minute scan, but I'll put this on
my radar and try to get you a review.
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