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Ready for the release, I'd say.

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Guido van Rossum 1997-10-08 05:05:28 +00:00
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README
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@ -1,69 +1,64 @@
This is Python release 1.5 alpha 3
This is Python release 1.5 alpha 4
==================================
******************************************
*** RELEASE RESTRICTED TO PSA MEMBERS! ***
******************************************
What's new in this release?
---------------------------
Too much has changed to list it all here. There's a long list of
changes in Misc/NEWS. That's still not complete, but it's getting
there... I'm working my way through a year of change logs to extract
meaningful descriptions of all but the most insignificant changes.
Too much has changed to list it all here. There's a loooong list of
changes in Misc/NEWS. This file is now *complete*: it has all changes
made since 1.4 (all changes worth mentioning, anyway). The complete
list of changes since 1.5a4 is presented at the end of the file. (It
could still use a better organization. Want to volunteer to add
better structor or convert it to HTML?)
Here are the most important changes since 1.5a2:
- There's support in the readline module to change bindings and
write your own command completer in Python. An example completer is
in rlcompleter.py.
- The new "re" module is here (still very experimental). This is a
new regular expression package that uses Perl syntax and solves some
thread-safeness problems with the matching interface.
- The new re module is here. It is based on Philip Hazel's pcre
code; the Python interfaces were put together by Andrew Kuchling.
The regex module is declared obsolete. (The previous re
implementation, obsolete though it is, is still available as
re1.py, as a keepsake.)
- In support of the re module, a new form of string literals is
introduced, "raw strings": e.g. r"\n" is equal to "\\n".
- All standard exceptions and most exceptions defined in standard
extension modules are now classes. Use python -X to revert back to
string exceptions. See
http://grail.cnri.reston.va.us/python/essays/stdexceptions.html
for more info.
- Many previously undocumented modules are now documented; some are
now officially obsolete or deprecated.
- Sequence assignments no longer require exact matching of the type
of sequence on the left- and right-hand side. For example
(a, b, c) = [1, 2, 3]
is now legal. (The lengths must still match exactly.)
- The build process now builds a single library (libpython1.5.a)
which contains everything except for the main() entry point. This
makes life much easier for applications that embed Python.
- dict.get(key, default) returns dict[key] if it exists, and default
otherwise; default defaults to None.
- GNU readline is now configured as an extension module.
- Class objects now have a __module__ attribute giving the module
name in which they were defined.
- There is much better support for embedding Python in applications
that use threads. Such applications can now create multiple
interpreter instances if they like to. Embedding applications can
also uninitialize or reinitialize Python, and explicitly manipulate
the global lock.
- There is now built-in support for importing hierarchical module
names (e.g. "import spam.ham.eggs"); ni is declared obsolete. Note
that the built-in package support is somewhat simpler (no __ and
__domain__) and differs in one crucial aspect: __init__.py is loaded
in the package's namespace instead of as a submodule. See
http://grail.cnri.reston.va.us/python/essays/packages.html
for more info.
- Tk 8.0b2 is supported. Support for Tk 4.0 is dropped (4.1 and
higher are still supported).
- New Tk dialog modules by Fredrik Lundh: tkColorChooser.py,
tkCommonDialog.py, tkMessageBox.py, tkFileDialog.py,
tkSimpleDialog.py.
- I've redone many aspects of the Windows version -- e.g. sys.path
is set more like it is done on Unix, there's a new module msvcrt
which exports a bunch of MS VC runtime functions like setmode() and
kbhit(), and there are new project files for DevStudio VC++ 5.0.
- Some new speedups, e.g. inlined some opcodes for int arguments.
- All known leaks have been plugged.
- New dictionary d.update(e): for k, v in e.items(): d[k] = v.
- New strategy for clearing modules: globals whose name starts with
a single underscore are deleted first.
- Comparisons can now raise exceptions.
- Metaclasses can now be programmed in Python (see Misc/NEWS, search
for "corollary").
- New tools faqwiz and webchecker included.
- A site can append items to the end of the default sys.path by
placing directory names in files named *.pth in either
$prefix/lib/site-python/ or $prefix/lib/python1.5/site-packages/.
This is implemented in the module site.py which is now loaded by
default at the end of initialization; use python -S to skip this.
See
http://grail.cnri.reston.va.us/python/essays/packages.html
for more info.
Other important changes, if this is the first release you see since
1.4:
@ -73,14 +68,34 @@ Other important changes, if this is the first release you see since
- There's an assert statement.
- There's a -O option that removes SET_LINENO instructions, assert
statements and code prefixed with ``if __debug__: ...''.
- In support of the re module, a new form of string literals is
introduced, "raw strings": e.g. r"\n" is equal to "\\n".
- Comparisons can now raise exceptions.
- New dictionary methods: .clear(), .update(), .copy().
- It's much smarter about the initial value for sys.path; you can
control it easier using $PYTHONHOME (see the usage message, e.g. try
``python -h''). In most situations, the interpreter can be
installed at an arbitrary location without having to recompile.
- The infamous killer joke, ehh, metaclass support, is now
available. See Demo/metaclasses/ for more info.
- The build process now builds a single library (libpython1.5.a)
which contains everything except for the main() entry point. This
makes life much easier for applications that embed Python.
- Much better support for embedding, including threads, multiple
interpreters(!), uninitialization, and access to the global
interpreter lock.
- There's a -O option that removes SET_LINENO instructions, assert
statements and code prefixed with ``if __debug__: ...''. (It still
only makes a few percent difference, so don't get all worked up
about this.)
- The Grand Renaming is completed: all linker-visible symbols
defined by Python now have a "Py" or "_Py" prefix, and the same is
true for most macros and typedefs.
@ -92,9 +107,22 @@ What is Python anyway?
----------------------
Python is an interpreted object-oriented programming language, and is
often compared to Tcl, Perl, Java or Scheme. For a quick summary of
what Python can mean for a UNIX/C programmer, read Misc/BLURB.LUTZ.
If you have web access, point your browser to http://www.python.org.
often compared to Tcl, Perl, Java or Scheme. To find out more, point
your browser to http://www.python.org/.
A modest plug
-------------
************************************************************************
* Without your support, I won't be able to continue to work on Python! *
************************************************************************
If you use Python, please consider joining the Python Software
Activity (PSA). See http://www.python.org/psa/.
Organizations that make heavy use of Python are especially encouraged
to become corporate members!
How do I learn Python?
@ -103,13 +131,15 @@ How do I learn Python?
The official tutorial is still a good place to start (in the Doc
directory as tut.tex; and http://www.python.org/doc/tut/tut.html).
Aaron Watters wrote a second tutorial, that may be more accessible for
some: http://www.wcmh.com/uworld/archives/95/tutorial/005.html.
some: http://www.wcmh.com/uworld/archives/95/tutorial/005.html. Both
tutorials (as well as most other sources) assume that you already know
how to program -- if you'd like to write "Python for Dummies", I know
a publisher who would like to talk to you...
There are now also several books on Python. While these are still
based on Python 1.3 or 1.4, the language is so stable now that you'd
be hard pressed to find places where the books are out of date. The
first two books, both first published in October 1996 and both
including a CD-ROM, form excellent companions to each other:
based on Python 1.3 or 1.4, the information in them is still 99%
correct. The first two books, both first published in October 1996
and both including a CD-ROM, form excellent companions to each other:
Internet Programming with Python
by Aaron Watters, Guido van Rossum, and James Ahlstrom
@ -121,7 +151,7 @@ including a CD-ROM, form excellent companions to each other:
O'Reilly & Associates
ISBN: 1-56592-197-6
If you prefer to read German, try:
If you can read German, try:
Das Python-Buch
by Martin von Loewis and Nils Fischbeck
@ -151,21 +181,6 @@ optional and no GNU code is distributed with Python. For all these
packages, GPL-free public domain versions also exist.
A modest plug
=============
*********************************************************************
* Without your help, I won't be able to continue to support Python! *
*********************************************************************
If you use Python, please consider joining the Python Software
Activity (PSA). See http://www.python.org/psa/.
Organizations that make heavy use of Python are especially encouraged
to become corporate members!
Build instructions
==================
@ -214,7 +229,17 @@ not, "make clean" sometimes helps to clean up other inexplicable
problems as well. Try it before sending in a bug report!
If the configure script fails or doesn't seem to find things that
should be there, inspect the config.log file.
should be there, inspect the config.log file. When you fix a
configure problem, be sure to remove config.cache!
If you get a warning for every file about the -Olimit option being no
longer supported, you can ignore it. There's no foolproof way to know
whether this option is needed; all I can do is test whether it is
accepted without error. On some systems, e.g. older SGI compilers, it
is essential for performance (specifically when compiling ceval.c,
which has more basic blocks than the default limit of 1000). If the
warning bothers you, edit the Makefile to remove "-Olimit 1500" from
the OPT variable.
Platform specific notes
@ -224,6 +249,11 @@ Platform specific notes
on these platforms without the special directions mentioned here, let
me know so I can remove them!)
64-bit platforms: The modules audioop, imageop and rgbimg don't work.
Don't try to enable them in the Modules/Setup file. They
contain code that is quite wordsize sensitive. (If you have a
fix, let me know!)
Solaris: When using Sun's C compiler with threads, at least on Solaris
2.5.1, you need to add the "-mt" compiler option (the simplest
way is probably to specify the compiler with this option as
@ -293,7 +323,9 @@ SGI: SGI's standard "make" utility (/bin/make or /usr/bin/make)
does not check whether a command actually changed the file it
is supposed to build. This means that whenever you say "make"
it will redo the link step. The remedy is to use SGI's much
smarter "smake " utility (/usr/bin/smake), or GNU make.
smarter "smake " utility (/usr/sbin/smake), or GNU make. If
you set the first line of the Makefile to #!/usr/sbin/smake
smake will be invoked by make (likewise for GNU make).
Configuring additional built-in modules
@ -592,10 +624,15 @@ http://www.python.org/doc/FAQ.html) for more info.
Emacs mode
----------
There's an excellent Emacs editing mode for Python code; see the file
Misc/python-mode.el. Originally written by Tim Peters, it is now
maintained by Barry Warsaw <bwarsaw@cnri.reston.va.us>. The latest
version is online at ftp://ftp.python.org/pub/emacs/python-mode.el.
There's an excellent Emacs editing mode for Python code; see the file
Misc/python-mode.el. Originally written by the famous Tim Peters, it
is now maintained by the equally famous Barry Warsaw
<bwarsaw@cnri.reston.va.us>. The latest version is online at
ftp://ftp.python.org/pub/emacs/python-mode.el. As you might expect of
Barry (and even if you don't know what the heck I'm talking about :-),
a configuration file for his cc-mode.el which selects the style used
throughout most Python C source files is also provided; see the file
Misc/ccpy-style.el.
Web site
@ -609,7 +646,7 @@ that's close you you.
Ftp site
--------
Python's own ftp site is ftp://ftp.python.org/pub/python. There are
Python's own ftp site is ftp://ftp.python.org/pub/python/. There are
numerous mirrors; see http://www.python.org/python/Mirrors.html for a
list of mirror sites.
@ -628,7 +665,7 @@ no LISTPROC or Majordomo commands, please, and please be patient --
normal turn-around time is about one working day.)
The Python web site contains a search form that lets you search the
newsgroup archives (or the web site itself). Click on the "search"
newsgroup archives (and the web site itself). Click on the "search"
link in the banner menu on any page of http://www.python.org/.
@ -638,7 +675,8 @@ Bug reports
Bugs are best reported to the comp.lang.python newsgroup or the Python
mailing list -- see the section "Newsgroup and mailing list" above.
Before posting, check the newsgroup archives (see above) to see if
your bug has already been reported!
your bug has already been reported! If you don't want to go public,
send them to me <guido@python.org>.
Questions
@ -647,7 +685,10 @@ Questions
For help, if you can't find it in the manuals or on the web site, it's
best to post to the comp.lang.python or the Python mailing list (see
above). If you specifically don't want to involve the newsgroup or
mailing list, send questions to python-help@python.org.
mailing list, send questions to <python-help@python.org> (a group of
volunteers which does *not* include me). Because of my work and email
volume, I'm often be slow in answering questions sent to me directly;
I prefer to answer questions posted to the newsgroup.
The Tk interface
@ -655,10 +696,10 @@ The Tk interface
Tk (the user interface component of John Ousterhout's Tcl language) is
also usable from Python. Since this requires that you first build and
install Tcl/Tk, the Tk interface is not enabled by default. It works
with Tcl 7.5 and Tk 4.1 as well as with Tcl 7.4 and Tk 4.0. I didn't
have the time to test it with Tcl 7.6 and Tk 4.2 yet, but it might
well work.
install Tcl/Tk, the Tk interface is not enabled by default. Python
supports all Tcl/Tk versions from version 7.5/4.1 through 8.0 (and it
is expected that it will also work with newer versions). Tcl/Tk
7.4/4.0 is no longer supported.
See http://www.sunlabs.com/research/tcl/ for more info on where to get
Tcl/Tk. Also http://sunscript.sun.com/.
@ -680,6 +721,9 @@ http://www.python.org/doc/life-preserver/index.html. Reading the
Tkinter.py source will reveal most details on how Tkinter calls are
translated into Tcl code.
A more recent introduction to Tkinter programming, by Fredrik Lundh,
is at http://www.pythonware.com/library/tkinter/introduction/index.htm.
There are demos in the Demo/tkinter directory, in the subdirectories
guido, matt and www (the matt and guido subdirectories have been
overhauled to use more recent Tkinter coding conventions).
@ -705,21 +749,19 @@ Distribution structure
Most subdirectories have their own README file. Most files have
comments.
BUGS A list of known bugs (not completely up-to-date)
Demo/ Demonstration scripts, modules and programs
Doc/ Documentation (LaTeX sources)
Grammar/ Input for the parser generator
Include/ Public header files
Lib/ Python library modules
Makefile.in Source from which config.status creates Makefile
Misc/ Miscellaneous files
Misc/ Miscellaneous useful files
Modules/ Implementation of most built-in modules
Objects/ Implementation of most built-in object types
PC/ PC porting files (DOS, Windows, NT, OS/2)
Parser/ The parser and tokenizer and their input handling
Python/ The "compiler" and interpreter
README The file you're reading now
TODO A list of things that could be done (not up-to-date)
Tools/ Some useful programs written in Python
acconfig.h Additional input for the autoheader program
config.h.in Source from which config.status creates config.h
@ -733,8 +775,9 @@ the configuration and build processes:
Makefile Build rules
config.cache cache of configuration variables
config.h Configuration header
config.log log from last configure run
config.status status from last run of configure script
config.log Log from last configure run
config.status Status from last run of configure script
libpython1.5.a The library archive
python The executable interpreter
tags, TAGS Tags files for vi and Emacs