On 21/01/2010 21:21, "Martin v. Löwis" wrote:
Where the default *file system encoding* is used (i.e. text files are
written or read without specifying an encoding)
I think you misunderstand the notion of the *file system encoding*.
It is *not* a "file encoding", but the file *system* encoding, i.e.
the encoding for file *names*, not for file *content*.

It was used on Windows for Windows 95; it is not used anymore on Windows
(although it's still used on Unix).

Ok, I'm just using the wrong terminology. I'm aware that mbcs is used for filename encoding on Windows (right?). The encoding I'm talking about is the encoding that Python uses to decode a file (or encode a string) when you do the following in Python 3:

    text = open(filename).read()
    open(filename, 'w').write(some_string)

It isn't the default encoding (always utf-8 by default in Python 3 apparently), it isn't the file system encoding which is the system encoding used for file names. What is the correct terminology for this platform dependent encoding that Python uses here?

The important point is that it is platform dependent - so if you ship and use text files with your Python application and don't specify an encoding then it will work fine on some platforms and blow up or use the wrong encoding on other platforms.


I think there are way too many specific cases where Python 3 will encode
implicitly to get a complete list from the memory. If you really are
after a complete list, you'll need to perform a thorough code review.
For a few examples where some kind of default encoding is applied,
consider XML and the dbm interfaces.
Ok. Understood.

Thanks

Michael Foord


Regards,
Martin


--
http://www.ironpythoninaction.com/
http://www.voidspace.org.uk/blog

READ CAREFULLY. By accepting and reading this email you agree, on behalf of 
your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any 
and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, 
clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and 
acceptable use policies (”BOGUS AGREEMENTS”) that I have entered into with your 
employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without 
prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you 
have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your 
employer.


_______________________________________________
Python-Dev mailing list
Python-Dev@python.org
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-dev
Unsubscribe: 
http://mail.python.org/mailman/options/python-dev/archive%40mail-archive.com

Reply via email to