PEP: 434
Title: IDLE Enhancement Exception for All Branches
Version:
Last-Modified:
Author: Todd Rovito <rovitotv@gmail.com>, Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu>
BDFL-Delegate: Nick Coghlan
Status: Draft
Type: Informational
Content-Type: text/x-rst
Created: 16-Feb-2013
Python-Version: 2.7
Post-History: 16-Feb-2013


Abstract
========

Generally only new features are applied to Python 3.4 but this PEP requests an
exception for IDLE [1]_.  IDLE is part of the standard library and has numerous
outstanding issues [2]_.  Since IDLE is often the first thing a new Python user
sees it desperately needs to be brought up to date with modern GUI standards
across the three major platforms Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows.  


Rationale
=========

Python does have many advanced features yet Python is well known for being a
easy computer language for beginners [3]_.  A major Python philosophy is
"batteries included" which is best demonstrated in Python's standard library
with many modules that are not typically included with other programming
languages [4]_.  IDLE is a important "battery" in the Python toolbox because it
allows a beginner to get started quickly without downloading and configuring a
third party IDE.  IDLE is primarily used as an application that ships with
Python, rather than as a library module used to build Python applications,
hence a different standard should apply to IDLE enhancements.  Additional
patches to IDLE cannot break any existing program/library because IDLE is used
by humans. 


Details
=======

Python 2.7 does not accept bug fixes, this rule can be ignored for IDLE if the
Python development team accepts this PEP [5]_.  IDLE issues will be carefully
tested on the three major platforms Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows before any
commits are made.  Since IDLE is segregated to a particular part of the source
tree this enhancement exception only applies to Lib/idlelib directory in
Python branches >= 2.7.   


References
==========

.. [1] IDLE: Right Click Context Menu, Foord, Michael
   (http://bugs.python.org/issue1207589)

.. [2] Meta-issue for "Invent with Python" IDLE feedback
   (http://bugs.python.org/issue13504)

.. [3] Getting Started with Python
   (http://www.python.org/about/gettingstarted/)

.. [4] Batteries Included 
   (http://docs.python.org/2/tutorial/stdlib.html#batteries-included)

.. [5] Python 2.7 Release Schedule
   (http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0373/)


Copyright
=========

This document has been placed in the public domain.



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