Apparently the ipaddr module in Python 3.1 is disliked by some, and there was a reasonably robust discussion on python-dev about how it's wrong, wrong, wrong. Guido finally ruled: ixnay on the addr-pay.

This is pretty relevant given the twitstorm caused by Zed Shaw's ludicrously self-confident rants about how he always knows best and is a kickass programmer and oh, by the way, the Python stdlib is kinda lousy in places. I think the thing to take away from Zed's rant is that the Python module addition process is, in fact, moderately FUBARed, with some people able to add perhaps ill-considered modules while others have to struggle to get the time of day. (Aahz's solution is good -- require a PEP.)

It's relevant personally, too, as I dig my way through some of pygr's modules. It's way easier to add code than it is to refactor it, especially if you don't have a lot of unit tests; if you want to retain backwards compatibility, you're basically doomed. DOOOMED, I say! And that's why the Python stdlib has so many issues.

(Incidentally, nothing against Zed Shaw -- obnoxiousness is his public persona, and he's definitely worth listening too -- but it is funny to realize that all his articles contain arguments that boil down to "he always knows best and is a kickass programmer." I especially liked his statistics rant.)

--titus