Why doesn't Python's OS module name its functions after their UNIX counterparts?
Some confusions and what they could be named instead:
os.chdir() could be os.cd()
os.getcwd() could be os.pwd()
os.listdir could be os.ls()
These would be a lot more straightforward to users used to UNIX nomenclature.
python python-module
asked Nov 19 '18 at 19:15
PascLeRascPascLeRasc
14815
|
show 1 more comment
Some confusions and what they could be named instead:
os.chdir() could be os.cd()
os.getcwd() could be os.pwd()
os.listdir could be os.ls()
These would be a lot more straightforward to users used to UNIX nomenclature.
python python-module
asked Nov 19 '18 at 19:15
PascLeRascPascLeRasc
14815
5
chdirandgetcwdare the names of the Unix counterparts.
– jwodder
Nov 19 '18 at 19:17
@jwodder That's incorrect, they're called cd and pwd on Unix.
– PascLeRasc
Nov 19 '18 at 19:20
Python is wrapping the system callchdir(which the shell commandcdalso wraps).
– chepner
Nov 19 '18 at 19:20
@PascLeRasc: Those may be the names of the commands but not the C functions.osis a collection of functions, and so it makes sense to use those names.
– jwodder
Nov 19 '18 at 19:20
1
Also,osis the platform-agnostic library; there's no reason for it to use names from any particular operating system.
– chepner
Nov 19 '18 at 19:21
|
show 1 more comment
Some confusions and what they could be named instead:
os.chdir() could be os.cd()
os.getcwd() could be os.pwd()
os.listdir could be os.ls()
These would be a lot more straightforward to users used to UNIX nomenclature.
python python-module
asked Nov 19 '18 at 19:15
PascLeRascPascLeRasc
14815
Some confusions and what they could be named instead:
os.chdir() could be os.cd()
os.getcwd() could be os.pwd()
os.listdir could be os.ls()
These would be a lot more straightforward to users used to UNIX nomenclature.
python python-module
python python-module
asked Nov 19 '18 at 19:15
PascLeRascPascLeRasc
14815
asked Nov 19 '18 at 19:15
PascLeRascPascLeRasc
14815
edited Nov 19 '18 at 19:17
PascLeRasc
asked Nov 19 '18 at 19:15
PascLeRascPascLeRasc
14815
asked Nov 19 '18 at 19:15
PascLeRascPascLeRasc
14815
asked Nov 19 '18 at 19:15
PascLeRascPascLeRasc
14815
14815
5
chdirandgetcwdare the names of the Unix counterparts.
– jwodder
Nov 19 '18 at 19:17
@jwodder That's incorrect, they're called cd and pwd on Unix.
– PascLeRasc
Nov 19 '18 at 19:20
Python is wrapping the system callchdir(which the shell commandcdalso wraps).
– chepner
Nov 19 '18 at 19:20
@PascLeRasc: Those may be the names of the commands but not the C functions.osis a collection of functions, and so it makes sense to use those names.
– jwodder
Nov 19 '18 at 19:20
1
Also,osis the platform-agnostic library; there's no reason for it to use names from any particular operating system.
– chepner
Nov 19 '18 at 19:21
|
show 1 more comment
5
chdirandgetcwdare the names of the Unix counterparts.
– jwodder
Nov 19 '18 at 19:17
@jwodder That's incorrect, they're called cd and pwd on Unix.
– PascLeRasc
Nov 19 '18 at 19:20
Python is wrapping the system callchdir(which the shell commandcdalso wraps).
– chepner
Nov 19 '18 at 19:20
@PascLeRasc: Those may be the names of the commands but not the C functions.osis a collection of functions, and so it makes sense to use those names.
– jwodder
Nov 19 '18 at 19:20
1
Also,osis the platform-agnostic library; there's no reason for it to use names from any particular operating system.
– chepner
Nov 19 '18 at 19:21
5
5
chdir and getcwd are the names of the Unix counterparts.– jwodder
Nov 19 '18 at 19:17
chdir and getcwd are the names of the Unix counterparts.– jwodder
Nov 19 '18 at 19:17
@jwodder That's incorrect, they're called cd and pwd on Unix.
– PascLeRasc
Nov 19 '18 at 19:20
@jwodder That's incorrect, they're called cd and pwd on Unix.
– PascLeRasc
Nov 19 '18 at 19:20
Python is wrapping the system call
chdir (which the shell command cd also wraps).– chepner
Nov 19 '18 at 19:20
Python is wrapping the system call
chdir (which the shell command cd also wraps).– chepner
Nov 19 '18 at 19:20
@PascLeRasc: Those may be the names of the commands but not the C functions.
os is a collection of functions, and so it makes sense to use those names.– jwodder
Nov 19 '18 at 19:20
@PascLeRasc: Those may be the names of the commands but not the C functions.
os is a collection of functions, and so it makes sense to use those names.– jwodder
Nov 19 '18 at 19:20
1
1
Also,
os is the platform-agnostic library; there's no reason for it to use names from any particular operating system.– chepner
Nov 19 '18 at 19:21
Also,
os is the platform-agnostic library; there's no reason for it to use names from any particular operating system.– chepner
Nov 19 '18 at 19:21
|
show 1 more comment
1 Answer
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The functions in the os module are named after the corresponding C library routines, not shell commands. chdir and getcwd are the names of the C functions for changing the working directory and getting the current working directory.
Also, os is the platform-agnostic library; there's no reason for it to use names from any particular operating system, although in this particular case it does.
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The functions in the os module are named after the corresponding C library routines, not shell commands. chdir and getcwd are the names of the C functions for changing the working directory and getting the current working directory.
Also, os is the platform-agnostic library; there's no reason for it to use names from any particular operating system, although in this particular case it does.
add a comment |
The functions in the os module are named after the corresponding C library routines, not shell commands. chdir and getcwd are the names of the C functions for changing the working directory and getting the current working directory.
Also, os is the platform-agnostic library; there's no reason for it to use names from any particular operating system, although in this particular case it does.
add a comment |
The functions in the os module are named after the corresponding C library routines, not shell commands. chdir and getcwd are the names of the C functions for changing the working directory and getting the current working directory.
Also, os is the platform-agnostic library; there's no reason for it to use names from any particular operating system, although in this particular case it does.
The functions in the os module are named after the corresponding C library routines, not shell commands. chdir and getcwd are the names of the C functions for changing the working directory and getting the current working directory.
Also, os is the platform-agnostic library; there's no reason for it to use names from any particular operating system, although in this particular case it does.
edited Nov 19 '18 at 19:25
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2 revs, 2 users 50%
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5
chdirandgetcwdare the names of the Unix counterparts.– jwodder
Nov 19 '18 at 19:17
@jwodder That's incorrect, they're called cd and pwd on Unix.
– PascLeRasc
Nov 19 '18 at 19:20
Python is wrapping the system call
chdir(which the shell commandcdalso wraps).– chepner
Nov 19 '18 at 19:20
@PascLeRasc: Those may be the names of the commands but not the C functions.
osis a collection of functions, and so it makes sense to use those names.– jwodder
Nov 19 '18 at 19:20
1
Also,
osis the platform-agnostic library; there's no reason for it to use names from any particular operating system.– chepner
Nov 19 '18 at 19:21