This is from the latest python-dev summary. It might be of interest to folks considering how to store strings. ---- * Adding .decode() method to Unicode * Marc-Andre Lemburg asked for opinions on adding a .decode method to unicode objects: http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2001-June/015346.html He certainly got them; the responses ranged from neutral to negative, and there was a surprising amount of hostility in the air. The problem (as ever in these matters) seems to be that Python currently uses the same type for 8-bit strings and gobs of arbitrary data. Guido came to the rescue and calmed everyone down: http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2001-June/015404.html since when discussion has vanished again.
